Elder Peterson: You Are Hereby Called To Serve in the....ENGLAND BIRMINGHAM MISSION: Letter #18

Dear Mum and Family,

It's good to hear that you have all had a great week this last week and it was great to hear all of the experience that you had. Thanks for all of the letters and for the great quotes and thoughts that you sent. I really enjoyed all of them.

I have had a great Thanksgiving so far. The Stilgers invited us over on Sunday for a Thanksgiving meal and it was really nice. They are such a great family and they definitely take care of us really well. Then on Thursday P**** S**** is taking us out to eat which is really exciting. I hope that you all have a great Thanksgiving even though I know it won't be as fun without me. I don't even think Kenny Furgeson can make up for me not being there.

You asked about P**** and what she is like. Well she is a really cool member who is really involved with missionary work and really loves the missionaries. She has said that she has tons of binders just full of missionaries from about the 70's which is really cool. She is always looking for opportunities to share the gospel with others and she is just a great lady.

It sounds like you had a great time talking with Sister Stilger on skype. When we went over to their house on Sunday their daughter was telling me all about it. She said that she really enjoyed talking with you also. I am glad that you enjoyed the pictures of us at the restaurant. You were wondering about the picture that was of us with napkins on our face well those were not actually napkins. They were wash clothes that were really hot and wet and they felt super nice on your face. They give those to you after eating at that specific restaurant it was really fun.

I am really excited for this Christmas and for the new thing that the church is going to be doing. I don't know if you heard, but the church is going to be doing a YouTube take over along with the new video. They are going to be the only advertiser on the YouTube home page which is really cool. I am also excited for the new video and this might seem weird, but also for the new Christmas pass along cards. We are going to be downloading the video so that we can share it with those that we visit since we don't have an iPad. I can't wait for this Christmas and for the new exciting things that the church is going to be doing.

It sounds like you guys are also really excited for Christmas seeing that the lights are now up. It is kind of weird though that it's not even Thanksgiving though and they are up. I guess things just don't get done right when I am not there to do it. I bet you are all especially excited for all the snow that you will probably be getting soon. I bet mom is so excited that she is having a hard time sleeping at night. I can't wait to see the pictures of all the deep snow that you will have by Christmas.

Like Sister Stilger said we went to Warwick Castle yesterday so that is why I didn't have time to email you guys. Mom just so you know you don't need to worry. If something goes wrong I am sure you will hear from President Rasmussen. You are such a worry wart sometimes. It's not like I am 6,000 miles away or anything.

Yesterday was a really fun day and I have a lot of pictures that I will be sending you. It was weird to think that the castle was built in 914 and that it is still standing strong. It was a great day and I hope that you have a great time looking at the pictures that I will be sending to you.

It has also started getting cold here in England so I will also send a picture of what we woke up to this morning (frost). It is not snow so sorry mom I hope you are not too jealous. It has started to get cold here. I have brought out the big coat. I still have not got the thermals out so it isn't that cold yet.

Caden it sounds like you have enjoyed some fun times working in the rain and getting really wet. I know exactly how you feel because I get pretty wet over here in England when it rains.

Chelsey that is really cool that you are in the same class as your weird sister. Maybe you can find out who her boyfriend is for me.

Lindsee that's good to hear that you are enjoying school and that something is really stressing you out since I am not home to do it for you. It sounds like you are going to have a great tri especially since you are in my most favorite sisters seminary class. I told her that she has to tell me if you have a boyfriend in that class so I would watch out for her.
Lindsee I think that the first question that you asked is kind of stupid because of course I shower every day. The showers are a little smaller over here and I look like elf when he showers in the morning. Just kidding they aren't that much smaller. Over here the bathrooms are the same as back home. They do call them bathrooms or the loo. They do not call them restrooms at all which is different. When you say that you have to go to the bathroom you say I have to use the toilet not the bathroom though. That was kind of weird to get use to at first, but I am use to it now.
The water really isn't better than back home. They put fluoride in there water over here so it does taste kind of weird. It was definitely gross at first, but I have gotten used to it now so it's not too bad.

Dad you spoke a little too soon about saying that the winters are not too bad here. We woke up this morning and there was a heavy frost outside and it is actually really cold. They really don't get much snow over here though and when it does snow it usually rains sometime after so the snow turns to slush and goes away. That is what I have heard at least from ward members and from other missionaries that have been out here for a winter. I think that now it is going to be cold until spring time so I am getting prepared for that. I have talked to other missionaries about it getting dark so soon also and they said that it is really crazy. It will be a cool experience and I can't wait to see how it goes. It sounds like the weather is pretty crazy back home and I am sure that mom is really enjoying the cold. I bet she wishes there was a ton of snow right now.

Well the thought that I want to share with you guys this week is from Henry B. Eyring about the scriptures.
“Since our needs change over a lifetime, God has different things to tell us at different times.... The Lord seemed to anticipate all of our problems and all of our needs, and He put help in the scriptures for us- if only we seek it."

I have read the Book of Mormon through a couple of times and I have been reading the Bible a lot. It is really cool to see that every time that I read it there is something new each time and that I learn something different every time I read it. I know that it is because of what Henry B. Erying has said that God knows what we need to hear at certain times and he makes those certain things stick out to us so that we can get that help that we need. All we need to do is to read and look for that help. I know that the scriptures can really help us and that they are really important to read. I hope that you all find the same joy in reading them as I do.
Thanks again for all the great letters and I hope that you have a great week.

Love,
Elder Peterson

I hope you all enjoy the pictures I have sent you. I am sure Caden will really like the castle.

Mom the only thing I don't like about the pictures you sent is the picture of my deer. I can't believe you would do something like that. You know that I couldn't stand the Christmas hat on it last year. I will think of something to get you back.

Elder Peterson's Christmas Deer
'Elder Deer'

Waking up to a winter frost from Elder Peterson's Flat
November 25, 2014

Ahhh! Warm wash clothes after dinner
"You should try it"
November 17, 2014

Proof of what these Elder's have really been up to
Warwick Castle November 24, 2014

Ephesians 6:11
Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able
to stand against the wiles of the devil.
'Helmet of Salvation'
Elder Peterson and Elder Burke
Warwick Castle
November 24, 2014