Some "Whacky" Times . . .

Dear Brethren,
I'm trying to remember exactly where I left off last week. I remember now what I was saying, however I think I will spare you for another week, and make this letter a little different.
This time, I'm going to just report on how things are going, and what rocks about my mission! Maybe I'll go over the whacky times, and some summaries!

The First Day of Proselyting On My Mission: I don't know how many of you I ever got to tell about the first day of my mission, but it's work retelling. I think start preaching a little less, and start sharing a few more experiences--both spiritual and crazy! My first day I was taken out by one of my trainers, Elder Thornock. We went out to downtown Omaha, and man it was crazy! It was 40 degrees below 0 with the windchill, and schools had been shut down all over the place for days. Nebraska drivers just cannot drive in the snow. In fact, they can hardly drive AT ALL! Anyway, to set the scene, imagine skyscrapers, cold cold weather, almost nobody outside (those who were out were extremely bundled up), and a brand new missionary out on the streets! I start walking down the sidewalk toward the first people I can sight, which are waiting at a bus stop. There is a man just yelling his guts out--only he isn't an intimidating guy, just weird--and he's screaming some wild things, almost like talking to himself though. Well, we talked to him first. We asked him if he has a faith in Jesus Christ. He responds, "Well, you see, I think that God is the devil, and Satan is Jesus". Now, some people mess with us...but this guy was serious. We kind of just moved on, and talked to some black people who stood at the bus stop and told us we could talk to them right there, but they weren't really interested--mostly just cold, with bloodshot and yellow eyes, and not a great first impression. Then we moved on, and talked to a guy walking quickly down the sidewalk, and he told us we could walk with him to his destination. So we did, and we walked into an amazing antique shop. He told us he owned the shop. He was a catholic guy who was very smart, and he wrote about several religions (basically to tear them apart), but the one he was never able to find problems with, was our church (heck yeah!). Well, we went on to talk about the Plan of Salvation a lot, and he went on to tell us how it makes sense that angels do exist, and explained it to us using evolution. He said, "You have man, then angel, then god." Whoa! Is he in the wrong religion, or what?
Well, after teaching him, we went to an appointment. On our way to the appointment, we learned the other missionaries talked to the crazy guy yelling things in the street. As they talked to him, the guy claimed he was possessed by a devil. One of the missionaries promptly offered to "take care of it" for him. He decilined, and said, "Oh no. I like it." Well, we had a talk about whether or not we should go back and do it anyway--of course, who's to say whether or not he really was? Perhaps he just belongs in the looney bin. Anyway, we eventually made it to the next apppointment. Elder Thornock briefed me on the guy's situation that we were going to see. He was a black guy who just stole his friend's gun because his friend was going to go kill somebody for some reason. He was a good guy who likes the missionaries, but what an appointment!
We went in, and talked to him for a bit. As we did, these two girls chimed in. Well, turns out they were both Lesbian, but they weren't dating each other, so it wasn't that awkward. However, they asked us all sorts of prying questions when they found out we can't even go on dates for two years. They asked, "How are you supposed to get some booty?" Awkwardly we answerd that we aren't, and don't have sexual relations till marriage. They flipped out, and it was nutty. One of them, I guess, actually wanted to join the church at some point, but couldn't cause she wouldn't quit being lesbian. However, awkwardly, she was pregnant because she decided to try not being a lesbian. What a first day, huh?
Anyway, that's not what I intended to write about, but was crazy. Here I am thinking this is how my entire two years would be. I hope you can find the humor in it, even if it's all awkward. Things did still stay crazy on my mission, and we laugh about a lot of things. However, none of my areas have been as crazy as Omaha. Moral of the story: Stay out of Omaha. It's full of weirdies. I'll give more examples in the future. This world is messed up. I guess the whole situation isn't funny. There's a lot to just learn from this experience, and I hope you future missionaries do. We have a lot of work to do out there. Love you all.
Love, Elder Chris Petersen

The Lord is going before us and preparing people . . .

Dear Brethren,

Today's message will have to be a short one since I am running low on time. I got transferred to Columbus Nebraska, which is about and hour and a half away from Lincoln. I am now serving as the senior companion, and am with a spanish speaking missionary, so this is an interesting experience. Columbus is a branch that covers several small towns, and it's weird because the whole town is surrounded by corn fields. I'm finally getting the classic midwest experience!............which, I actually hoped not to have, but great, why not, right? Anyway, the branch is great, but of course, much smaller than what I am used to. The work should be great!
Our mission was honored to be visited by Elder Ellis of the Seventy, and his wife. Their messages were great, and in a summary, told us that we need to enjoy our lives and our missions. The Lord's work is a great, and a joyful work! Elder Ellis talked a lot about how the Lord is going before us, and preparing people. He said that our job as missionaries, is to find the elect, not to convice people who will not listen. God is preparing people for us still, and He is also with us in our individual areas.
I believe this can be applied to even people who are not on their missions, to some degree. However, you may even be a tool in the hands of the Lord to help prepare somebody for the missionaries. Some people take time to be prepared. Well, I am out of time, but just think about the message. Love you all!
Love Elder Petersen

Reaching Out to Those Around Us . . .

Dear Brethren,
I do not have much to say right now really--but I suppose I say that a lot, and then I suddenly find something to get preachy about. Well, I guess I'll just have to keep typing until I figure out something to talk about that's worth something. Anyway, keeping going, I feel really old right now. I have 2 decades below my belt, and I'm still getting older. It's strange to realize that I'm twenty. It just seemed so far away...and now I'm there.
On a spiritual message, I feel like I'm going to beat a dead horse. I realized a lot of my messages include reaching out to those around us, and spreading the gospel. So have all of you done it yet? Have you found at least one person to share it with? If not, I hope you all do. If you are preparing for a mission, what better way than to get involved in the work now? If you can, arrange for a nonmember to be taught in your home--or if you can't do that, shoot to have a gospel conversation with a nonmember or less-active member, at least once a week. If you can't do that on your own, call the local missionaries, and go on a team up with them. Now, some people would say to me, "Chris, you're crazy! This isn't all that matters. We have normal, everyday life to live! We have other things to worry about." If you don't have an idea of how I would respond, then please, write me and ask. This work is so awesome! I wish for all of you to be apart of it! Still, to this day, one of the happiest times of my life is when Scott and I were meeting with the missionaries. It was good for me, it was good for Scott, it was good for Michael--and good for everyone who will ever be taught the gospel by me, Scott, or Michael. I was happy! It is the greatest happiness one may ever find--at least next to having a family, I would suppose. The greatest missionary work happens in the home, but just after that, if you want more happiness, share the gospel! All of us are actually commanded to do it.
Well, love you all! Have a great week!

Love, me

Great News!!

My Beloved Brethren,
I so miss being in your midst, but the work is going forth so amazingly! It's great to see what happens when we let God use us to do His work. Let me explain:
So, on missions, you will do what is called a "companion-exchange", or exchange for short. Well, my companion went to a town called Wahoo for a day or so, and my District Leader's Greeny that he's training, came to Lincoln with me. Well, in recent Mission Trainings, we had talked about following the promptings of the Spirit. We talked about how promptings can come as 1)Feelings, 2) Impressions, and 3) Thoughts. I have always struggled with recognizing promptings that come through thoughts alone! I have always second-guessed, saying, "Was that really the Spirit, or was that my own thought?" How about you?
Well one Elder who is currently the Assistant to the President, told me about an experience he had with a Greeny when roleplaying teaching with him. The Greeny just stopped, and said, "I can't do it." The Elder asked, "Why not? What's wrong?" The Greeny responded, "I thought the Spirit told me to bear my testimony here, but it didn't make sense to me, and I thought maybe it was just my own thought." The Elder responded, "Now Elder, there are two forces that can put thoughts into our minds--Satan, and the Holy Ghost. Now tell me, would Satan ever tell you to bear your testimony?"
Hearing that story, I decided that while I was on this companion exchange, and running the show, I would put this to the test. We were walking down the street, when suddenly I got the thought, "Go knock that door", right as I was passing the house. Now, door-knocking is usually a last resort, and most people don't respond well. I remembered the training on following thoughts. I did so, after all, would Satan ever tell me to knock a door? So with a vocal, "Fine! I'll do it!" the Greeny and I marched to the door, and knocked on it. A woman named Justina came out, and though it as sort of awkward at first (her reaction, and our lack of comfort in the situation), she told us about how she was currently reading a book about the purpose of life, because she wanted to know so badly. She as well was confused about who to worship? She said, "Is it God, or Jesus that we worship?" We explained a bit, and she said, "I've always wondered why there are so many churches out there!" She is golden.
Well, we've since taught her, and her husband, twice, and will continue to do so. As well, on that exchange, I was instructed to knock more doors. We did so, and nothing happened at first. Then, as I was walking down the street, passing a house, getting ready to turn the corner, the Spirit said, "Go up the stairway at that last house." I again, agreed with a vocal, "fine!", and marched up the stairs. Before we got all the way up, a man walked out of his house, and said, "Hey! Nobody lives there!" I got it, the timing was perfect, and if I hadn't knocked all of those doors, and marched up the stairs, we would have missed him. We would have been around the corner long ago. He's a man named Justin who we hope to go back to teach.
Again, the same day, we kept walking to find people on the street. As we did so, we caught another man on his way out. His name is Max Antwon. He was so nice to us, and told us we had to come back to talk to him. Since then, we've gone back, and met his wife, Kellie. We taught them both the Restoration, and they really liked it. They came to church last Sunday, and brought their kids--two of which are baptism age. The kids loved church, and want to go back. Max told his kids okay, they would come back next week! Again, the timing was perfect to catch Max, when we likely would have passed him up had the timing been wrong. God directs his work.
Now last time, I left a lot of scriptures about putting all of our trust in the Lord. Now, this is not something I have ever really been good at in my life. Putting God first is something I've never been good at in my life. I put many things first, in fact. Brothers, why is this thing so important that we put God first? Because cursed is he that puts his trust in the flesh, and not in God. As much as we hate to think about it, we never know who will be there tomorrow. Our loved ones could be gone! All our possesions could be gone! One moment, you believe somebody is there for you, and the next they aren't! But God is faithful, and will never leave. Only you can separate yourself from God--and you do this by loving sin more than Him. He loves you more than anyone does! He will be there for you always, and if you trust and obey Him, He will not let you face a terrible destruction, but will give you everlasting life. Think about it. Ponder this all a lot, and know He is your perfect Father who wants to communicate with you! He wants to answer your prayers, and talk with you! He will never let you down.
Now, I have to go, though I wish I could say more. The last thing before I go, is great news!
For all of you who remember Becca, Dallas, Ty, and Daisy Jones, we have more good news about the Jones family that I taught back in Omaha! Their mother was already a member, and they were baptized just a bit ago--but now their Father has been baptized! Their entire family has been baptized! They are on their way to the temple, where they can be an eternal family in the kingdom of our Father! I love you all!
Love, Elder Chris Petersen