Letter #18

Hello All!

What a week it's been! Transfer calls came Saturday morning. Elder Willard will be going to Dade City, which is just south of Brooksville. It's a tiny little town with mostly old people, and the population drops way off come summer time because most of them are snowbirds. Elder Ellis and I are staying here in Highlands A together for at least one more transfer. It's weird to think that I've been in Highlands for 3 months already, and might be here for almost 8. President Summerhays called last week and hinted that I'll be training in the next few months, and unless I go somewhere else next transfer, I'll be staying here most likely to train. I really like this ward though. The people are really great, and they're starting to catch the spirit of missionary work. So it will be great to keep working with them and help them to bring others to the Savior.

A couple weeks ago, we tracted into Laurie and her 3 kids. They were all really excited to keep learning and go to church. We had a chapel tour with them on Friday, and Laurie said that she talked to her husband, who is super anti-organized religion, and he's not too happy about her and the kids doing this. He's okay with them going to church, but he said that the kids can't get baptized until they're 18 and can make the decision on their own. It was kind of a bummer, but I hope they still come to church. They didn't come this Sunday though. But I know that if they start coming and get involved, that the dad will see the benefit that it has for his family, and his heart will be softened.

We've been teaching a part-member family, the Clays, the past few weeks. We go over on Monday nights to teach them, since the whole family does hockey throughout the week and weekend. Monday is their only open night. The dad is not a member, and we think the two younger boys are not either. The mom and oldest daughter are though. We've had some really good discussions on the Atonement and repentance, and about reading the Book of Mormon. Brother Clay at first didn't seem interested in it for himself, but was okay with the kids learning. But he always stands in the doorway between the living room and kitchen to listen, and even joins the conversation sometimes to help the younger boys understand some things. It's pretty cool :)

These past couple weeks have been full of learning experiences for me. The scriptures just have so much in them to learn about, and I'm always learning about how I can be better at being a missionary, especially since I've been reading about Alma and the sons of Mosiah in the Book of Mormon, and about the ministry of the apostles in the New Testament. This week is going to be way good though!

We had a member take us out to lunch today and get us some gator tail. Very delicious! Tastes like chicken, but with the consistency of calamari. And it was served with some sort of honey mustard. Very good :)

Before I go for this week, I just want to say that I know that Heavenly Father answers our prayers. He's answered so many of mine in the past couple of months. He cares about each of us and wants us to be the best we can. He hasn't left us alone, and if we pray in faith, seeking after righteous desires, we will get answers.

Thank you for all of your love, support, and prayers.

Elder Petersen

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