Back for good...

Hey everyone!

 

Dad! Hope you had an amazing Birthday!!! And Matt, that's so exciting!! You graduated!! Woohoo!

 

So, I got transferred....not too excited about it. But, I know it's what the Lord wants for me. I got the call to be a sister trainer leader in the Spanish areas. It's a new leadership calling that we are opening up. We will work with all the Spanish sisters in the whole mission, go on exchanges with them and help to unify our areas. There are only 3 Spanish areas, with only 12 hermanas...in the whole mission. So, there aren't very many of us. If we haven't been companions with one of them, we have at least served with them before. So, we will see how it goes! Hopefully it's a good change and doesn't take us away from being part of our zones here.

 

It's been crazy though, these last few months up in Monte Vista have gone by way too fast. I didn't want to leave, but I guess that's not up to me. I'll just have to go back and visit for sure. :)

 

This week was crazy. So many things happening, so much work to do, and not enough time for anything! haha But, so great. We picked up a few new investigators this week, Lupe and Ruby, and they are great! Their family is awesome, but there are so many of them! There are 13 kids, 7 still live there, with lots of nietos and other people always running around. Kinda reminds me of home! haha But, they are awesome, and hopefully will start coming to church soon! the daughter really wants to learn more, so it's more just getting the parents to recognize the need for it. Slowly but surely!

 

Elder Mahina drew on my soccer and rugby balls!! They look legit!

Last week we had our zone pday which is always a blast...this one was definitely one to remember. We ended up meeting at a park with the zone for games and a BBQ...well the elders were in charge of the grill and everyone was going to bring something. Well, turns out that they kinda failed with the whole grill thing, and the park was too windy to just use charcoal. So, they brought the food over to the church building, then with all the smoke ended up setting off the fire alarm. We got some calls from the Stake President about 15 minutes later. We had fun playing some soccer and vball though, until this lady decided that we were using too much of the space to play (it was a huge park) but oh well! We still had fun! One of the elders brought a water balloon launcher, so we had to event a way to fill up the balloons. We decided to use my soccer pump and just fill it with water...that was an adventure and took forever! Then we just used a plastic water bottle and squeezed hard-that worked way better! We had fun launching them across the field. I'll send a few pictures :)

 

We have been working a lot with the Maldonados recently, and it's so exciting! The parents both have callings now, the son finished all the lessons to be baptized, and the dad already had his interview to receive the Melchizedek priesthood! And, his dad is planning on coming up from Mexico this weekend to ordain him!!! Woohoo! We are sad to not be there though! It's been great. If everything goes as planned this weekend, he will get baptized on May 10th! So exciting :) Definitely going to make it back for that one! We went up to see them last night to say goodbye and it was soo hard! Everyone was crying, and we didn't want to leave, but it's going to be good. They are in good hands for sure!

 

Thursday turned into our service day. We were planning on getting around a bit and teaching in different areas, but that didn't really happen. We took an investigator over to Obispo's house to get some clothes and things for her family. She literally took the entire basement...soooo our entire car was full with baby things and clothes...literally full! It was crazy! We went to crochet with a member for a little bit. She just had a baby and wanted to learn how to make little headbands. So fun!

 

We went and saw what we thought was going to be or new house with the Sanders. We were planning on helping them finish it up and then moving in at the end of the transfer...I guess those plans kinda changed! But it was fun to go around the house and get to know them a little bit. They are kinda crazy! She has a fairy garden...yup it's just a garden for her little fairies...and he has a bonsai tree, well had. She forgot to water it and it died. Sad day.

 

We were working with Leonor again this week! She is awesome! She got baptized back in November and is super excited to be in a new ward. We were explaining a lot of things about family history and the temple, and she is working to get a temple recommend to go do baptisms! She was a little confused and didn't think she could go at all yet, good thing we got that fixed up! The Lord definitely guides us to know what to teach and when :)

 

Sorry, I'm super scattered...I don't think I have really accepted the whole idea of being back in Denver. But, I know it's going to be great. I'm excited for the chance to go on exchanges with all the great Spanish sisters as well and get to know them a little better.

 

Something I was thinking about yesterday...sacrament's topic was prayer, and as I was thinking about it, prayer is one of the most important things we could ever have. It's such an amazing blessing. We have the opportunity to talk with our Heavenly Father and to seek out His guidance and help. He allows me to walk by faith, but always guides as well. As I was getting up to bare my testimony yesterday, I was just thinking about all the blessings and miracles I have witnessed here on my mission. It's all because of Jesus Christ. Because of His suffering and resurrection, we have a purpose here on earth. We have goals and an eternal vision. We just need to all accept the atonement and the fact that Christ can help everyone. No one has fallen too far-Christ paid it ALL. Not just the last part, but ALL.

 

I love you and miss you all so much! I hope you have an amazing week and can continue being the amazing people and missionaries that you are. :)

 

Love you!

Hermana Jessica Peterson

 

We decided that our zone leaders needed a good laugh, so we got some help and decided they were a newly-wed couple. We had the pop cans and all! And, the entire inside of the cab is full of balloons, good thing the other elders driving with them were our under-cover spies and left the back window cracked. :)