Wow, this week has been so amazing, I really don't even know where to start, but first of all I'm really glad the family is doing great and working hard.
Every week you know how I have to go to the TRC which is where you teach members of the church so you can practice teaching in Spanish?
Well this week my companion and I went there along with the rest of the district, and when we got their my teacher pulled us out and told us that the lady we were going to teach was actually going through a hard time and she was crying in the room, so my teacher told us to just forget everything we had planned, and if we had to then we could teach in English because the lady was really struggling. I was kind of scared along with my companion because we didn't know what was going to happen so we said a prayer and went in there. She was bawling so we tried to figure out what was wrong, and she was kind of embarrassed to tell us what the real problem was so only told us the basics. Then after that we went by the sprit and tried to comfort her best we could, so it was a really good experience because It taught me to teach by the spirit. She wanted a blessing so we actually gave her a blessing in the TRC, and my teacher came in and had me set the oil apart in Spanish, he guided me and then my companion gave the prayer because he has done it many times, so it was a good experience.
Another thing that happed this week is that I got my travel plans! I was freaking out; we all were. I leave on the 6th, and I have a layover in Texas for 3 hours at about 4:30, so everybody better be home when I call. I'm way excited to call.
Anyway, the most important thing that happened this week was that the gym was finished and they put the bleachers in so that we could have our devotionals, so on Tuesday when we were all sitting there here comes in Jeffrey R Holland!! I was freaking out, and everybody just stands up. I was so excited; It really was the highlight of my week. He spoke to us without any notes, just by the spirit. I couldn't believe my favorite speaker was there. His talk was amazing. When I call I will have to expound on it, but when he walked in you could just feel the spirit so strongly, and you know how Holland is, he speaks with such power. He talked about how he is afraid we will not take advantage of this time on the mission. He said we cannot waste a second, a day, an hour, nothing! This only comes once, and there's no saying only if I did this or only if I did that, he said give it all you got! he also talked about obedience which was amazing, then he said something that was awesome too, He said we have to be perfect every time we teach, we have to always be tuning ourselves! And when we teach the investigators, we have to knock their socks off! I will have to tell you more when I talk to you all on the phone. I loved it. It changed how I do everything on my mission; it was a wakeup call to me and during the meeting the sprit was definitely the teacher the whole time. I absolutely loved it.
Also this week I ran into Jordan and Payton Davis. It was so awesome to talk with Jordan, on the temple walk we talked the entire time and I took pictures except not with Payton because we couldn't find him and then he left, but I got a couple of pictures that I will probably send.
My time is almost out but wow, this week has been totally awesome. I want to be the best I can be here. I'm not going to waste any time being here; I'm taking advantage of every second. I want my mission to be a 24 month mission, not any less! No time will be wasted.
I hope you all are having a wonderful time out camping. Give my love to everyone.
By the way where are all my letters from the boys, I want to hear from them.
I love all you guys with all my heart, keep working hard and choosing the right.
Con Amor,
Your Elder Pedersen
Monday, August 30, 2010
Friday, August 20, 2010
Crazy!!! August 20, 2010
Hi my family! This week has been really crazy; there is a lot that I have been doing. I cannot believe that Steven is going to Spain! I'm so excited for him; I know he will be an amazing missionary. I have been praying for him, I feel bad that his family is struggling with the decision he has made. yeah I saw Jordan! it was way cool to see him here, I was only able to talk to him for like a minute but it was way cool to see him, he is liking his first couple days, and yeah I know I need to get pictures with all the missionaries from back home but its hard finding everyone and taking a picture, and it's going to be hard to find Jordon too because he is English speaking but I will definitely do it before I leave. The person I see the most here is Jordon Harmon, its good talking to him about everything.
To answer your question, everybody in my district is going to Chile but only 4 out of the seven are going to my mission including my companion. The Spanish is kinda difficult some days, this last week has been hard on me because we are learning new grammar and new words everyday and sometimes its hard not to get frustrated. I have to just keep in mind that the lord wants me to succeed in this language; if he wants me to struggle then I'm going to struggle. I have noticed though that I need to be obedient 100% or else the lord will not help me, I have also really learned to teach by the spirit and do everything through the spirit, when I'm teaching a lesson by the spirit, it goes so much smoother. I am also learning each day how the scriptures apply to everything in life and there are answers to every problem or question.
I'm so excited to leave and go to Chile, it will definitely be hard when going down there because people in Chile speak super fast, so I'm trying to take advantage of this time that I have here.
I wish I had more time to tell you more. It stinks cuz writing the family is one of the highlights of my week, but its okay cause I will get to talk to everyone on the phone when I fly out to Chile!
I love everyone! I'm glad everyone is doing great. Give my love to the rest of the family.
Thank you mom for the quote, it was perfect for me this week.
Keep the faith.
Con Amor,
Your Elder Pedersen
To answer your question, everybody in my district is going to Chile but only 4 out of the seven are going to my mission including my companion. The Spanish is kinda difficult some days, this last week has been hard on me because we are learning new grammar and new words everyday and sometimes its hard not to get frustrated. I have to just keep in mind that the lord wants me to succeed in this language; if he wants me to struggle then I'm going to struggle. I have noticed though that I need to be obedient 100% or else the lord will not help me, I have also really learned to teach by the spirit and do everything through the spirit, when I'm teaching a lesson by the spirit, it goes so much smoother. I am also learning each day how the scriptures apply to everything in life and there are answers to every problem or question.
I'm so excited to leave and go to Chile, it will definitely be hard when going down there because people in Chile speak super fast, so I'm trying to take advantage of this time that I have here.
I wish I had more time to tell you more. It stinks cuz writing the family is one of the highlights of my week, but its okay cause I will get to talk to everyone on the phone when I fly out to Chile!
I love everyone! I'm glad everyone is doing great. Give my love to the rest of the family.
Thank you mom for the quote, it was perfect for me this week.
Keep the faith.
Con Amor,
Your Elder Pedersen
Monday, August 9, 2010
Fifth Week!!! All Spanish 8-6-10
Hey family! btw how come no one wrote me? Not even mom or dad. What's with that? It's okay I understand, it's all good, but I want letters from the family cause writing the family and getting letters is the highlight of my day, especially when they come from the family.
Did you guys go on the trip to the coast this week? How was the time in Utah? Kenny still needs to tell me how his efy experience went.
How are things going at home?
Well it's been a great week for me, my companion and I have really started to get along really well, are relationship is growing a lot, especially over this past week.
Oh also we have turned everything into Spanish, all classes and reading is all Spanish now! It's crazy but it really pushes me to learn new words, my companion is really good at Spanish because he took 5 years, so he is helping me if I don't understand something so it's good. He and I both attempted to teach the first lesson the other day. it was hard cause I want to speak faster, but it just takes some time to be able to do that, but the second time we taught it went really good and I relied on the sprit to get the words out that I wanted to say, so I'm practicing as much as I can because on Monday we actually go in and teach the whole lesson to someone we don't know at all, so it's kind of scary. I have learned this week that the scriptures can apply to anyone's life. I am coming to love the book of Mormon more and more every day, and I'm learning things that I have never known before. The book of Mormon is truly a miracle. This gospel is a miracle! Everything about it is!
We haven't had a general authority speak to us yet but I think we will now because usually sometime before general conference is when we will get to hear from them, but it's still cool though because the speakers that we have had are former quorum of the seventy and there is a lot that I learn from them every time i hear them speak to us, and they always speak on obedience, and talk about how we have to be obedient or the lord will not help us in this work and it's so true that the lord cannot bless us if we aren't obedient. I see some elders here that don't follow the rules but no matter what they do I'm trying to obey everything so I will have the lord on my side.
Another thing that happened this week is that one guy from are district is leaving because he can't get the language, so it's kind of sad and now we only have 7 in our district now! That's a way small district.
I'm so busy each week with all the Spanish I have to memorize and learning how to teach the lessons and much more, I'm tired all the time too but I love it. And everything is going great. I love you all, thank you for your prayers and support.
Give the family my love. Keep the faith
- con Amor
Your Elder Pedersen
Did you guys go on the trip to the coast this week? How was the time in Utah? Kenny still needs to tell me how his efy experience went.
How are things going at home?
Well it's been a great week for me, my companion and I have really started to get along really well, are relationship is growing a lot, especially over this past week.
Oh also we have turned everything into Spanish, all classes and reading is all Spanish now! It's crazy but it really pushes me to learn new words, my companion is really good at Spanish because he took 5 years, so he is helping me if I don't understand something so it's good. He and I both attempted to teach the first lesson the other day. it was hard cause I want to speak faster, but it just takes some time to be able to do that, but the second time we taught it went really good and I relied on the sprit to get the words out that I wanted to say, so I'm practicing as much as I can because on Monday we actually go in and teach the whole lesson to someone we don't know at all, so it's kind of scary. I have learned this week that the scriptures can apply to anyone's life. I am coming to love the book of Mormon more and more every day, and I'm learning things that I have never known before. The book of Mormon is truly a miracle. This gospel is a miracle! Everything about it is!
We haven't had a general authority speak to us yet but I think we will now because usually sometime before general conference is when we will get to hear from them, but it's still cool though because the speakers that we have had are former quorum of the seventy and there is a lot that I learn from them every time i hear them speak to us, and they always speak on obedience, and talk about how we have to be obedient or the lord will not help us in this work and it's so true that the lord cannot bless us if we aren't obedient. I see some elders here that don't follow the rules but no matter what they do I'm trying to obey everything so I will have the lord on my side.
Another thing that happened this week is that one guy from are district is leaving because he can't get the language, so it's kind of sad and now we only have 7 in our district now! That's a way small district.
I'm so busy each week with all the Spanish I have to memorize and learning how to teach the lessons and much more, I'm tired all the time too but I love it. And everything is going great. I love you all, thank you for your prayers and support.
Give the family my love. Keep the faith
- con Amor
Your Elder Pedersen
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Almost 4 weeks: July 30, 2010
The garden is also huge! Way bigger than it was when I left. And yeah I got your letter thank you. It helped a lot. I always get something that I need from your letters, so thank you. That's cool that Jordan and Steven are coming over. I can't wait to here where he gets sent to. I'm way excited for him! The mtc is definitely going a lot better. especially because 4 people left to Guatemala and now it's a lot better, and yes we do climb the walls, it pretty fun.lol I'm having fun here. It seems like time is going by way fast. It's already my fourth week basically. I'm counting down to when I get to go to Chile, and even though I like it here I want to get out to where the real work is. The language is going a little better, I was confused with some of it but now I'm getting better and starting to understand it a bit more. Basically it will just take time to just say what I want to say in Spanish. I just have to work really hard at it. I'm kind of bummed that there is no choir here. I wanted to be in it but oh well.
I'm learning so much being here and each day, I'm becoming a better teacher. And I'm starting to love teaching. But I know that I will only be speaking in English for about another week and then I teach in Spanish. This is our last week that we will be speaking in English and that scares me, so I hope I will be able to do it, cause me and my companion are teaching for 35 min. so its kinda crazy. Oh and I saw Jordan Harmon and Sean Russell. They love it here and Sean is speaking Spanish with his companion all the time. So when I talked to him, he was just talking to me in Spanish about how his week was going. So it was kinda cool. I see Jordan Harmon all the time because his class is in the same building. So it's way cool.
I can't believe mom is only 1 hour away and I can't see her and Kenny is about a block away! (Tell Kenny to write to me about his experience) I can even here the efy kids screaming every day, so they are pretty close, but even though I can't see them, it gives me comfort to know they are right there.
Everyday I'm here I learn a lot, in meetings, devotionals, or just on my own. I love this gospel and I am coming to love and know my savior better more and more each day. I can't wait to share it with those in Chile.
Thank you so much for your love, support and faith in me. Thank you also for your prayers I know you are with me every step of the way and I can feel your prayers.
Oh and today I get to go to the temple for my first time being here! So I'm way excited. It's going to be awesome.
I love you all so much. Give my love to everyone.
Your Elder Pedersen
I'm learning so much being here and each day, I'm becoming a better teacher. And I'm starting to love teaching. But I know that I will only be speaking in English for about another week and then I teach in Spanish. This is our last week that we will be speaking in English and that scares me, so I hope I will be able to do it, cause me and my companion are teaching for 35 min. so its kinda crazy. Oh and I saw Jordan Harmon and Sean Russell. They love it here and Sean is speaking Spanish with his companion all the time. So when I talked to him, he was just talking to me in Spanish about how his week was going. So it was kinda cool. I see Jordan Harmon all the time because his class is in the same building. So it's way cool.
I can't believe mom is only 1 hour away and I can't see her and Kenny is about a block away! (Tell Kenny to write to me about his experience) I can even here the efy kids screaming every day, so they are pretty close, but even though I can't see them, it gives me comfort to know they are right there.
Everyday I'm here I learn a lot, in meetings, devotionals, or just on my own. I love this gospel and I am coming to love and know my savior better more and more each day. I can't wait to share it with those in Chile.
Thank you so much for your love, support and faith in me. Thank you also for your prayers I know you are with me every step of the way and I can feel your prayers.
Oh and today I get to go to the temple for my first time being here! So I'm way excited. It's going to be awesome.
I love you all so much. Give my love to everyone.
Your Elder Pedersen
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