Sunday, January 31, 2010

Another interesting letter!!

Dearest Sons of Mosiah,
This week has been an interesting one, to say the least. We teach, as you can tell from my other posts, really interesting people. I'll quickly tell you about a few of them, and then about a few things you might want to be aware of before your mission. This is interesting.
First of all, we ran into a woman who is a Born Again Christian, who told us her mighty stories of how she teaches people to "be saved", how she's healed people of cancer, and how her amazing baptism experience was when she was baptized into a false church. Oh boy!
So, she believes that all you have to do is say Christ's name, and you are saved. Then, when you die, go to the light, saying the name of Jesus Christ, and it doesn't really matter what you did in your life, as long as you claim Him as your Savior right then and there. Also, when here family all around the country, have anybody dying, the call her for instruction on how to be saved (Oh yes, you haven't heard anything yet).
She overcame cancer herself, which really is cool, and then she claims she healed a woman of cancer as well. Now here's the tipper: when she was baptized (which is totally useless if all you have to do to be saved is say His name. Also, she was baptized into a church that wasn't even her own. ??? what the???), she stood in a line, and were all baptized one by one. And she reaccounted it for us. She told us that when it was her turn, she went under, and when she came back up, the ceiling cracked open, a light came through, and she saw God--His angels singing "Glory to God the almighty"--and the preacher turned to her who baptized her, and said that she was the first person that had happened to all day. Now, I don't mean to criticize. She was a really really nice lady. She was just insane. She also wakes up praying in tongues, goes to bed praying in tongues, and what's up with these churches doing everything in tongues? Doesn't God just understand English?
We also met a Nun this week, who told us that she's never seen greater examples of Christ, than us LDS Missionaries. Why isn't she baptized? I have no idea. She went on about how the world is in trouble, and even how the catholic church was in trouble. Again, why isn't she baptized LDS? I don't know. She was nice though. Great lady.
Alright, so I found something you may very likely run into, Future Missionaries. There is a man named Andrew Price, who is from British Columbia. REMEMBER THIS NAME! Andrew Price. He is a man who calls Missionaries all over the world, just so that he can bash with them about our doctrine. I do not know what his motives are, but they can't be good. Perhaps he records his conversations with Missionaries and uses them for anti. Also, if nothing else, he tries to shake the testimonies of our missionaries. He always calls from a Private Number, somehow he has Missionaries Cell Numbers, and he has a British accent. If he ever calls you, ask for his name. If it is Andrew Price, hang up on him, or something. He called us last night, and Elder Bowyer just asked, "Is this Andrew Price?" The man said yes, and he hung up on him. Elder Bowyer later explained who he is to me, and Elder Thornock.
Well, we have some great progressing investigators. The hardest part about this work, btw, is being able to come back for a second visit. Most people will stand you up. So if you get a return appointment, and they honor it, at least you have your foot really in the door. It's so great when somebody will actually allow you to teach. There is nothing like sharing the First Vision in Joseph Smith's own words, that invites the Spirit so strongly...well, few things anyway. A solid testimony also invites the Spirit strongly--especially when it's about Christ's Atoning Sacrifice.
Anyway, I probably ought to go. There is a lot to get done today. I love you all! And don't worry, when we get some baptisms, I'll tell you all about them!
Love, Elder Christopher Petersen

Tuesday, January 19, 2010


This is Christopher's latest letter....I think you'll enjoy it!!

Dear Sons of Mosiah (and everyone else),
I URGE YOU TO READ THIS ENTIRE THING!
Life here in Nebraska is awesome, and completely, utterly insane! My Mission is the craziest adventure I think I've ever been on...and I've only been out a month...I'll see some of you in 23 more! Not that I'm counting, cause if you count when you are where I am, you will feel utterly devestated! Besides, I like it out here. Don't get me wrong. I'm missing all of you like crazy! Still, there's so much work to be done, and it's an honor to represent my Savior, Jesus Christ, every single day.
So...here we go...
Recently in my mission: My companion drove all three of us through a one way street backwards! As far as people we have met, we had an ugly lady answer the door in bra. She had tramp tattoos all over, and yes, she was overweight--however, I acknowledge right now that I shouldn't judge that, because she is a beautiful daughter of God...(I'm trying so hard to keep a straight face right now, but I can't do it!!!)...however, she is a daughter of God, nonetheless, so of course, we went about things as we should as Missionaries. We started introducing ourselves, when she said, "Go away! I'm a Pegan! Leave!". I knew exactly what that meant, but Elder Bowyer felt the need to inquire, "So I don't know much about Pegans. Can you tell me a little bit about it?" She responded, "I'm a Witch!" He said, "So does that mean you can do magic?" And she said, "Yes! Now go away!" Trying not to laugh, though I know her magic is real (and scares me, but the priesthood overcomes all), we complied and went on our way.
Investigator wise, we have had a rough week. Many people that were very promising, started dropping us, and dodging us. To say the least, it was kind of upsetting to us. You know, on a mission, if you are doing it right, you start to forget about yourself (your feelings, your personal wants, etc.), and you begin to feel a burden that I can't compare to anything. You feel the wickedness of the world on your shoulders, and the evil that gets to people astonishes you. You become very aware how powerful both forces that exist in this universe, are. Both the power of good, and the power of evil. Of course, the power of God (being good) is a power that evil can never hope to defeat. Never! I can testify of that now, more than ever. However, Satan has a strong hold on many many people. There are so many people who he has a hold on that are living in ignorance, and because of that, they refuse to change. Ignorance is bliss. Truly, the church that Nephi wrote about, that Great and Abomidable Church, is here on this earth. It allows people to believe they are following Christ, and that as long as they believe in Him, they can do whatever they want, sin however they may, and they will be saved in the Kingdom of God. Not so. Satan is a genius. My brethren, be careful to not be decieved! I warn you! These people are comfortable in their wickedness, and when that happens, it is so hard to get them out of it.
Now that I've written an essay (lol!), I'll get on to two stories I want to tell all of you about, that will hopefully prepare you for your missions. Please read them!
The story of the Pentacostal Woman:
We were out trying to contact a man named Ardon, but he wasn't home. On his street, a woman parked in her driveway ( a black woman in her twenties, I believe. And no, I'm not being racist! If anything, I love black people more than white people out here. Black people actually listen to us. A lot of the reason for that, is because they were raised to respect servants of God. Even those that are in gangs). We talked to the woman, and she wanted us to come in, cause it was cold. She seemed really nice, and made us some amazing hot chocolate (that may seem suspicious, but she told us what the ingredients are, and they check out). Then we began to teach. Elder Bowyer decided that before we shared the First Vision, he wanted to teach her about the Holy Ghost so that she would know how to recognize that it was what she would feel while I recited it in Joseph's own words. Normally, that is a great idea...then we found out she was a Pentacost.
I don't know if many of you know about Pentacosts, so I'll lay this down for you, and let you know why this is bad. You see, their religion is all about "feeling the Holy Ghost", only when they "feel the Holy Ghost", they believe that evidence of it is speaking with tongues. That's right. The only evidence is speaking with tongues. Their church meetings include people standing up, going crazy all over the place, "speaking in tongues" (none of them understanding what they are saying in that supposed language, by the way. They basically just utter a bunch of sounds that sound like some foreign language), and they go around hitting each other on the forehead saying, "You're healed, brother!" Yes, they "heal" each other.
Well, she got all hung up on the fact that we don't speak in tongues (and she doesn't count foreign missionaries as having the Gift of Tongues because they study). From there on, she didn't really listen. She decided she doesn't need anything but the bible, and her church. So, we wasted a long time there, and the oddest thing happened. All three of us felt really drained.
We figured out why that is. As missionaries, we are always accustomed to feeling the Spirit. There is nothing quite like it. He is with us ALWAYS, partially because of our calling, and partially because of how we live. When talking with this woman, she went crazy, practically screaming her preaching. She actually managed to drive away the Spirit (and I'm not kidding), when she went insane, preaching crazy things. It drained us. It's so strange to me how utterly dependent we become upon the Spirit.
Wow, this email is long! I have more stories, but I think I'll save them for some other time. We meet interesting people all the time. I love it, but it is so hard watching all of these people reject the Gospel ignorantly. There is nothing harder. As a missionary, if you are doing it right, the majority of the pain you will feel out here, is the pain that comes from watching the wicked and fallen state of the world. So many good people are doing terrible things. Word of Wisdom and The Law of Chastity, are two huge problems here. Prepare yourselves, brothers, because the world really needs you.
I know that this Gospel is true. Every time that I testify of the Restoration of Christ's True Church, I am filled with joy. Everytime I teach the First Vision in Joseph Smith's own words, I feel the Spirit without fail. I know that God lives, and He loves each of us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to suffer all things for us. I love you all, so listen to me when I say, get to work!

Monday, January 11, 2010

Chris sent a message to you all!!

Chris is working hard already. It sounds like he is talking to some pretty interesting people! They seem to ask him some strange questions. I'll let you read it for yourself, as I copy and paste his letter:

Hello Sons of Mosiah, Family, and Friends! :-p

Nebraska is AWESOME! My adventures here are already very strange, and life changing. I've only done two days of work...(this is P-Day for me, which is Monday, except next week, which is Tuesday) one of the four days I've been with a companionship I was sick in bed with the flu. I puked my guts out ALL NIGHT! I'm sure you wanted to hear it.

Well, I started off here in Nebraska still with my MTC group. We flew in on a tiny little plane, and it was really cramped. Long story short, we spent the first few days going through orientation, and going through the history of the Saints here in Nebraska, which is awesome.

After that, I got called to serve in the Benson Area of Omaha, in the Omaha Stake. I have TWO COMPANIONS, who are ZONE LEADERS, and my trainers. It is tradition out here to call those that you train your son, and those who trained you your dad. As well, you call those who your sons train, your grandsons. Yes, I have two dads.

The first man I ever taught was a Catholic Genius, who invited us in cause it was cold. I think it was a 32 below zero wind chill outside, and it was definitely a below zero temperature. It almost always is here, and the snow is deep. He let us in. He owns an antique shop, and is basically a history expert who loves philosophy and hates the Lutheran and Protestant Churches. He is writing a paper on how they are wrong, and wants us to look it over for him. The Church he couldn't find a complaint about was, you guessed it, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He even went on about the Muslims! He even bashed his own church!

Also, so far, I've met two lesbians who were talking to us. They could not believe we had to go two years without sex. I then went on to tell them we couldn't till after we are married. They freaked out, asked why we can't ever "get some booty", and then asked whether or not we could at least slap a chicks butt while she passes. Of course we said no.

One guy we met stole a gun from his friend so his friend wouldn't kill anyone. Lovely. Turns out parts of Omaha are dangerous. We are banned from going down certain streets, and do our best to stay off of one called Ames. People get shot there nightly. There are gangs here. HOWEVER, they respect the missionaries. They call us the 'Jesus People'. It's really cool. Because of time restriction I need to log back on. I'm sending another email. One sec. Find part two.
(Part Two)

Well, while tracting in apartment buildings, you meet interesting people. There's nothing like having a door slammed on you by a guy who looks like Bigfoot! Lol! We also ran into some guys that one of my companions said "Hey, I like your shoes" to, and the guy answered, "Yeah, you'd like my dog. He's like that." What the heck does that mean?!

In the same apartments we ran into a girl that all we said was, "We're missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints," and she was like "oh yeah, come in!" She was insanely hyper! She fed me a blueberry pancake, and Elder Thornock French Toast...also chocolate....and water...even after I told her I didn't want any...we sat and talked with her, her boyfriend, and her agnostic friend. He was sceptical of all religion, had many questions that we answered perfectly. He said we were good, and very skilled, but he didn't want to listen. As we were teaching, they broke out the weed. Yes. Marijuana, or however you spell it. They were smoking pot right in front of us. It made me light headed for a sec, the fumes. Bleck! Also, Jenny, the girl who let us in, when we told her we couldn't see our families, friends, girlfriends, or anyone at home, asked how we get laid. We frankly told her that we don't. WHAT'S WITH PEOPLE AND SEX ANYWAY?! HOLY CRAP! We get asked about it, and I'm sure you will too.

Church was good, but it's different outside of Utah. It's obviously the same church, and things are run the same, but it's a lot smaller! And stranger...

Well, we came across a man named Cedric last night, and we set him for baptism on February 6th. That's right! The first time we ever spoke to him. Gave him the whole first lesson in the freezing cold, at night, outside, and set him for baptism! It's true, we are good. We also have another preparing that we also met yesterday. We're good. This is saying something for our mission. Unfortunately, the average missionary companionship here in Nebraska baptizes only 7 people per year! We know it isn't about numbers, but we are called to baptize. That is what all of the general authorities and mission president have crammed down our throats while we are out here. It's awesome! It's about getting people the true Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Well I've got to go. But I bear my testimony that God lives, and Jesus Christ is our Savior. They love us so much, you don't even know. This work changes lives. This Gospel changes lives! The atonement changes lives! I love you all, I have 40 sec so I've gotta go.

All is well!
Love Elder Chris Petersen

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Chris is on his way to Nebraska today!

We got to talk to Christopher today!!! Chris was able to call us from the airport this morning before he left for Nebraska. It was sooooo good to hear from him!!! He is excited to get out in the field and start working. He said his experience in the MTC has been "bitter-sweet," meaning that although he misses everyone and wants to be home at times, he is having a very spiritual experience. I will be posting messages from Chris' emails and letters periodically on this blog to keep you all updated. We should start receiving emails more regularly from Chris now that he will be in Nebraska. He would love to hear from you all. His mission home address is:

Elder Christopher Dennis Petersen
Nebraska Omaha Mission
11930 Arbor St Ste 203
Omaha, NE 68144-2998