Wednesday, September 12, 2012

E-Mail September 10, 2012


This is difficult to explain the details w/o me actually forwarding my initial letter to Daniel (I don’t have that w/me at the moment).  But here’s what he sent to me today… neat experience we had… great testimony builder for me.

Hey Pa!
I'm glad you got the package and letter! Happy birthday!! Hahaha!
So Stake Conference was pretty good? That's great. But! I do have to share something with you about your last letter.

So, you told me the story of how you were up super late one night and started reading some talks and things. You felt impressed to pray but, you thought you felt that because it was late, you weren’t sleeping, and you hadn’t said your nightly prayers yet. While you were praying you had three words come to mind, "Patience, Love and Example." You were later in the temple and you had an unusual amount of time in there alone so you began to pray again. Again you felt those three words impressed upon your mind but realized, this time, they were for me and not yourself. You were exactly right, Dad. I got that letter on Monday, two days before transfer meeting. Elder O'Toole was leaving and I knew that I was going to be training. We made our guesses as to who/how my new companion was going to be, sometimes jokingly, sometimes seriously. Well transfer meeting came around on Wednesday and I had to be there early, along with the others that were training, to receive a personal training on how to train =P. (Hahaha, that's a lot of trains!). Well I knew that Ryan, now Elder, Oscarson was coming into the mission and after the meeting was over I asked Pres. Howes how he was doing and how his first interview went and all that kind of stuff, just cause I was excited for him to be here. He asked me to step aside with him and told me that Elder Oscarson was doing great and that he was going to be a great missionary. He also began to tell me about my current companion, Elder Smith. Now in missionary life, everyone knows that you are getting a troubled companion if President has to talk to you about him before you meet him. Well, while he was talking to me he told me that there would be some challenges over this next transfer or two as I train him. That this first transfer will make or break him as a missionary.  This is where I KNOW that you received revelation and that you were in tune with the Spirit. President Howes told me that he felt very strongly that I should be his companion. He then said, "It will take a lot of 'Patience and Love.'" I couldn’t help but smile and even chuckle a little bit. You said at the beginning of your letter that you hoped it was "timely." It couldn’t have been more perfect timing.

I love you so much Dad and I know that you are a worthy, righteous priesthood holder. So much so that our Father in Heaven has instilled within you a gift; to receive revelation from Him and to discern who, of your stewardship, it is for. Please always stay worthy of that. I love you and Miss you much.

~Elder Daniel Lawrence Peterson

Conversing thru E-mail

Daniel: "Hey Kids! I'm on!"

Randi: "DANIELLLL!!!! I've been waiting for you to get on! Lol, I know, I need to get a life. How are things in Tempe?!"

Daniel: "Things are going really well! I have a boy! Hahaha, that just means I got a son and that I'm training someone. It's pretty legit. We are having some good times. I might write you later today about it though.
 
I got your letter! Thanks for that! But, yeah, Jodi is awesome, I will definitely miss teaching her. She was amazing. But, her fellowships friends pointed something out to us that I hadnt thought about before. She always told us that she didnt like change and that that was what had kept her from some of her baptismal dates. Well, guess what! That's probably her challenge in things to really test her faith. I dont know why I hadnt thought about that before but it just seems totally and completely right! Anyway, I promise I wont open your package until Monday. *Monday is Daniel's Birthday* My roomates will definitely try to make me open it earlier though. I will refrain! Hahaha, but, that's pretty much everything that is new!"

Randi:"That's awesome! I'm glad you have some peace of mind about Jodi. And congratulations on your boy!! Lol! All the missionary terminology is so funny to me. You guys are goof balls! Ok, well I have to go and get the girls down for naps, but be expecting you package by Thursday. And don't give in to your roommates! Lol, be strong! I love you Tempe. We all miss you a lot. Keep up the good work, and we'll see you in 13 months!! :D"

Daniel: "Lol its very possible! It's like those barfy scenes in a romantic movie where they're like "Whenever you look up at that moon, always remember that I am on the other side looking with you." *BAARRFF!!!!* or something to that effect. But hey, we are about to go shopping. This week we didnt have as much time to e-mail just cause we got here a little late. I love you Rand! I hope to hear from you next week!!"

Baby Raccoon


So we got this picture from Daniel a few days ago… here’s what the back of it says…

"Look at the baby raccoon!  We went hunting with a guy.  His dogs went crazy barking up a tree.  This is what they found!  So the guy stuck his arm down inside the tree and pulled one of these little guys out!  Sweet!!"

So yeah… first, can you go hunting while you’re on a mission??!!??  There’s got to be some rule against this right?  Pretty funny though… and a cute little coon!  I’m tellin’ ya… this kid is on vacation!


E-mail September 3, 2012


Hey Everyone! We got transfer calls and I am staying another! Elder O'Toole is gone though =/ ... The Lord obviously needs him elsewhere. But, the crappy thing about this transfer is 1) We lost our YSA ward! And two other Elder picked it up that personally I dont think should be there but, it's not up to me. 2) We lost our car because we lost our YSA ward! 3) I am no longer teaching Jodi (She told her fellowship that when she gets back from Idaho she would get baptized) and because she lost both of her missionaries she probably wont get baptized as soon as she was wanting to. She HATES change. So yeah, that is everything that happened this past 24 hours or less. It's ridonkulous. But, I am staying where I am and will continue to have the chance to build up these two wards that have very little work in them. It'll be fun!

I love you all! Miss ya much!
~Elder Daniel Peterson