Letter #40

Dear Mum and Family,

I am sure that you are all wondering where I am now at in the EBM (England Birmingham Mission) and who I am serving with.  Well I know a little earlier this time because President Rasmussen has training for Ipads this Wednesday and we are not going to be able to all move around that day.  So he has done transfers a little earlier this time and I already have my new companion and I am already in my new area.  I have to say that my companion is really cool and I know that we are going to have a great transfer together.  My companions name is Elder Devitt.  He is from Alpine UTAH.  Yes a companion from Utah that is how I know we are going to get along so well because we are both from the same wonderful state.  Now I am sure that you are all wondering where I am serving and I am sure that it will be a surprise to you when I tell you.  I am still serving in Llanelli Wales and it is a little weird because I will have spent a quarter of my mission in this one area which is a little unusual.  I am excited though to be here. And it looks like I will be skyping you from the same area that I did when I Skype on Christmas. That is a little crazy to think about.

Well this past week has been pretty crazy and I have had a great time.  It sounds like you all have also had a great time and that you have all enjoyed seeing the 2nd Mall Cop movie.  It sounds like it was a great movie and I hope that you are all keeping track of the movies that have come out since I have been gone so that I can watch all of them right when I get back.  I told Caden that was his responsibility, but I am sure that you can all help him so that he doesn't forget some of them.

It is good to hear that the family is doing well and that everyone is enjoying themselves.  I am sure that everyone is enjoying all of the nice weather that you have been having as much as I am enjoying the nice warm weather that we are having.  I have to say that this humidity thing that they have here in the UK is definitely not my thing.  It really isn't that warm here, but because of all the humidity I get so hot.  Even in a nice short sleeve shirt I get really hot and I can already say that when I am home I probably will not miss the humidity.  I remember when I got off of the plane when I first arrived in the mission it was like a punch to the face and I started sweating instantly. Just like the thirty point buck song at night time you slip right off of the bed.

That is really cool that the ward has been doing a lot of Family History.  It is also a pretty big thing over here in the UK.  I know that this Friday the Llanelli ward is having a Family History night where they are helping people who show up with their family history.  I am sure it is going to be a great night and I really hope that lots of people show up to it because it will be a great time to do family history.  Outside of the church you hear a good amount of people who actually do family history, but same as back home the church is really pushing family history in the wards and stakes and there are quite a few of family history activities going on every once in a while in the stake.

I am glad to hear that mum is getting really excited to talk to me on Skype sometime soon.  I don't know when mother’s day is so I have no idea when I am skyping, but I am sure that I will find out sometime soon.  At least I really hope that I find out sometime soon.  Just to warn you all I don't have an accent so don't be too disappointed when I speak and I still sounds like an American. One of the first things that Elder Devitt said to me when he first met me was that I have a nice thick American accent and I have had some missionaries think that I was from the south part of North American like Texas or something like that because they say I have such a thick accent.  It is really weird I know but I can't help it. I am proud to be an American!!
Well I don't want to keep you too long because I know that you guys don't want to listen to me much longer because you are already dreading speaking to me on mother’s day, whenever that is.

I would like to share a quote with you though from Mother Teresa.

“People are often unreasonable and self-centred. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway.
If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway. 
Give the world the best you have and it may never be good enough. Give your best anyway.
For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway."
I really love this quote because it shows that it doesn't matter what we do as long as we are doing what the Lord would want us to do is all that really matters.  I hope that you all try to have a great week and that you be the best you and that you can be.
Have a great week!
Love,
Elder Peterson