2 Corinthians 4:5

For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.

Monday, July 27, 2009

Bah...last week of the transfer ALREADY?!

So, this week has been AWESOME. McShane got baptized on Wednesday, but he hasn't been confirmed yet, so please keep him in y'alls prayers. He NEEDS that extra protection, especially now. His wife, Falon, is planning on getting baptized on Thursday, so by Sunday, the ward will have two more new members! HOORAY!

Um...this week has been hot and sometimes rainy. Um...I'm down to like 5 seconds, so I love y'all! The Church is true! Pres. Monson is God's chosen Prophet! Jesus Christ LIVES, and is our Savior and our best friend! And last, but not least....GOD FREAKING ROCKS!!! ;)

Your Friend in the Faith,
Sister Pedersen

Monday, July 20, 2009

Another blessed week!

Can I just tell y'all how much I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY?!!!!! Truly, I have never experience more REAL JOY in my entire life than I have in these blessed months I've spent in the service of my Savior.

I am constantly and continually amazed and humbled by the tender mercies the Lord is pouring down upon us here in Houma. We've got two more souls who have committed to come unto Christ by being baptized this week. McShane and Falon are amazing! They have just EATEN everything up, and they have a solid, SOLID testimony of the Savior and the Book of Mormon already. I am just in awe.

Brother and Sister Parfait and Sister Hebert are doing just FANTABULOUS! I've always heard about how people can tell a difference between members of the Church and the rest of the world, but I never really understood or saw it myself. I mean, yes, I believed it, but most everyone I knew was a member, so there wasn't much for me to compare appearances with. But now! I can see the difference, the change that has come over the Parfaits and Sister Hebert, and it is absolutely incredible. Their house, which is normally quite chaotic on account of having 9 or more people living there, is still crazy...but there is such a peace there! It's amazing! I love it! I was just in complete and utter awe as we sat and talked with them this week. I can't even describe it in words. But now I understand. Now I can see what everyone else sees, what they describe as a "glow" or "light." It is the SPIRIT OF THE LORD, and it FREAKING ROCKS!!! ;)

I absolutely LOVE being a missionary. There is NOWHERE else I would rather be in the whole entire world. There is NOTHING else I'd rather be doing---no book, no movie, no major world event, no concert, NOTHING could bring me the joy that this work brings!

Doctrine and Covenants 18:10, 15-16-----"The worth of souls is great in the sight of God.…And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!
And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!"

I testify with all my heart and soul that this is true! I know that this gospel changes lives and hearts, and brings us closer to the Savior. This is HIS work, and how privileged am I to be a part of it!

Your Friend in the Faith,
Sister P.

Monday, July 13, 2009

Still more tender mercies...

As you can see, the Thibodaux ward has three new members! Brother and Sister Parfait and Sister Hebert are doing just splendorific! (Yes, I just made up that word...I'm allowed to!)

Their baptisms were amazing. I am so blessed to have been a part of their lives. They've taught me so much about faith and trust in the Lord. They're just awesome. I am truly humbled when I think about all the circumstances surrounding Sister McKay and I finding them, and how truly prepared they were.

I love them, and y'all with all my heart! The gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored to earth in its fulness, and I get to go tell people about it! Seriously! This is what the scriptures mean when they talk about "glad tidings of great joy"! (See Alma 13:21-24) How blessed am I to be a part of this great work!

I love y'all so much! Thank you for your prayers. They mean so much to me.

Keep on keepin' on, everyone! Work as though it all depends on you, and PRAY because it ALL depends on HIM.

Your Friend in the Faith,
Sister Pedersen

Monday, July 6, 2009

Blessings from heaven and tender mercies of the Lord!

Hey y'all!

This past week was really REALLY good. Friday, we got to go to New Missionary Training at the mission home, and I got to see Sister Pilette and Sister Bunker, and I got to meet Sister Hill and Sister English! It was an AWESOME start to an AWESOME day! The Spirit was so strong in our meeting, and so many things were said that seemed like they were directed just to me. Isn't it so cool how the Spirit works?! It was a super-charged boost to my spiritual battery, and I loved every minute of it---even the hour and a half drive there and back. (Of course, that's probably because we got to ride with Elders Hudson and Bounds, and those two are just funny, so the ride went super fast!)

We had a good but uneventful 4th of July. We had to come in early Saturday night, but we got to watch some fireworks from our apartment, which was cool. Sister Santos asked me to sing the national anthem for her, and I got to tell her what I could remember of the story behind the poem that Francis Scott Key wrote. It really brought a lot of things into perspective for me, and I was very grateful for the blessings of liberty and freedom that so many people gave up their lives to protect---then and now.

Sunday was AWESOME! I love fast and testimony meeting! The Spirit was so strong. We had three of our investigators there who have baptismal dates, and they all said they loved every minute of church. Miss Rita read from Mosiah chapter 18, verses 8 to 10. As she began reading verse 10, her emotions were very close to the surface, and there was such a sweet spirit in the room. I'm pretty sure the Lord confirmed in her heart that her decision to be baptized was the thing He desired for her.

Next email---we'll have some baptisms to report on! Truly, I am in complete and total awe at the tender mercies of the Lord. This will be the first baptism that I've actually had a major role in, and I feel SO blessed to be a part of it. Kim, Chris, and Rita are absolutely GOLDEN, and I cannot believe how blessed I am to be one of the missionaries who found them and had the privelege of teaching them. It's still very surreal to me. I'm so humbled that the Lord has allowed me to be a part of this great work!

I love y'all! Keep sending letters, pictures, whatever. They make my day.

Your Friend in the Faith,
Sister Pedersen