Letter # 34

Dear Mum and Family,

It was good to hear from you all and to hear that you are all doing really well.   It sounds like you have had an amazing week and that you are all enjoying the nice weather. The weather has also been really nice for us this past week.  We have had a lot of sunshine and warm days.  It has rained a little bit like it is today, but it has been clearing up by the end of the day usually which makes it kind of nice. 

Well you were right about it being transfer week this week.  Tonight we will be getting a phone call from the zone leaders and they will be telling us where we are going and who our new companions will be.  We then meet at the mission home on Wednesday in Birmingham if we are moving.  We get our new companions there and we move to our new area.  It all happens pretty fast and pretty smoothly which is really nice.

Kidwelly castle was actually really cool.  It wasn't as nice as Warwick castle because they don't take care of it like they do at Warwick. I did take a lot of great photos and yes I am in most of them.  I am sure you will like them, but I have to say that I am going to teach you patience because I won't be able to send them to you because the library doesn't let me. Just remember patience is a virtue and virtue is a gift.

Mum in the letter that you send I would really like a picture of the family that I can carry around with me everywhere that I go.  We have been asked to have one with us so we can show it to others when we teach the plan of salvation for example and any other times that we need to use it.  If you could do that that would be great.  Other than that I don't need anything else.
I haven't used the cook book yet because we have actually been getting fed a lot by the members here in Llanelli.  We get fed a lot here so most of the time I don't eat a whole lot at the flat.  Today we are going to a member’s house for lunch and then another member’s house for dinner so that just shows how much we actually are fed.  It is really nice because they make a lot of great food and I haven't had anything that I don't like. 

This week has been another week of just talking and finding people that need the gospel at this time.  We have seen a few miracles happen this week and we have found some people who I think are pretty solid. That shows that your prayers are being answered and we are finding people who are ready at this time to hear the gospel.  We haven't been able to teach them yet, but we have plans to see them this next week.  It is going to be a crazy week because I am sure that some things are going to change here in Llanelli during transfers.  It will be weird not teaching the people that we have found this week with Elder Shaw if he leaves.   I think that I will be staying and I think that Elder Shaw will be leaving.  I guess we will find out tonight.

So you asked about splits and why we do them.  Well Elder Shaw is the district leader and the district leader is supposed to go on splits with each missionary in the district at least once to see how they are doing and to help them with anything they need help with.  So me being his companion we go on exchange at least once a week and it is a lot of fun.  I have become really good friends with a lot of missionaries that are in our district and we have had a lot of fun together.  So really the only reason is to help each other out so we can be better missionaries. 
 It sounds like the church ball games are going great this year.  I can't believe that I am missing such a great season this year of church ball.  I am sure that Caden is really enjoying it and that he is getting really good at it.  Chelsey has told me how much she is enjoying playing and Lyndsey has told me how much she is frustrated that she isn't able to play because of her elbow.  She is probably just looking for attention. haha

I haven't had any colds since I have been out here. I have stayed pretty healthy which has been really nice.  I have seen some missionaries that have been pretty sick, but I have been lucky to not get sick.  I have been working hard to eat really healthy and I have been exercising regularly which I think is helping me stay healthy.  

Well I want to share a thought with you that really touched me.  I have been thinking about it a lot this past week and it just brings so much comfort to my life and it has helped me on my mission.  It is from hymn 134 “I believe In Christ."  The last line says “I believe in Christ; So come what may."  I have thought a lot about that and it has really helped me.  If we believe in Christ and if we believe in His gospel which is on this earth today then everything bad that happens in our life doesn't matter.  As long as we follow his teaching and do what he tells us to do then everything that happens in our life will work out for the good.  I hope that that part of the hymn touches you as much as it touched me.
Thanks for all of you great letters that you sent this week.  I hope that you all have a great week.

Love,
Elder Peterson