Hymn #266

What a crazy week! We were blessed to see two more baptisms! Chris and April Scott are the newest members of the Thibodaux ward, and we couldn't be happier. Especially since they were originally committed for baptism on September 5th. :) We had a lesson with them last Monday, and Chris had everything about his baptism all planned out, and asked us if there was anyway he could get baptized sooner. I felt like I had to clean out my ears. It was AWESOME. :)

We've been working hard, and we're loving life down here. We've got interviews this Friday, which I'm excited for because I've got some questions I want to ask President Woods. He's seriously the COOLEST guy ever. I know pretty much all missionaries think that about their mission presidents, but it still is true! He's absolutely amazing, and so in tune with the Spirit, it's just AWESOME.

ANYHOOT...um...that's it for me, I think. Keep on keepin' on, everyone. I love you all. Remember this sage advice from a wiser missionary than myself: "Tip #1----trust God. Tip #2----Trust God. Tip #3----It's all good. And when all else fails.....TRUST GOD!!!"

Do good, trust God, and don't worry!

Your Friend in the Faith,
Sister Pedersen

Still more blessings...

We got to see two more people come closer to the Savior this weekend! Hallelujah! Truly, GOD ROCKS!!!

We also had a really neat experience with an investigator named Chris. He's Falon's (a recent convert) brother, and has been listening to what we've been teaching his family for quite a while now. He came to the baptisms on Saturday, and then got to be present when McShane was received the priesthood. He pulled me aside right afterward, and told me that while he was watching McShane, he felt this overwhelming peace and love flood his system. He said that he almost started to cry. He'd been praying and reading the Book of Mormon, and trying to decide if this is what the Lord wanted for him. Saturday night, he got his answer. He told me that his heart felt different, and that he knew that this was God's way of telling him what God wanted for him. I had goosebumps all over my arms, and chills running up and down my spine. I bore my testimony to him that I knew what he felt was the Spirit, and that God was indeed answering his prayers. So now, Chris and his wife April are preparing to be baptized on September 5th.

God is really there. He really answers our prayers. He loves us, He is our Father, and He asked our Brother to pave the way for us here on earth. Our Savior lives! He stands on the right hand of God, and is rooting for us every step of the way.

Your Friend in the Faith,
Sister P.

Bonsai!

Elder Kikuchi, when he toured our mission in February, told us that the word 'bonsai' meant 'hallelujah'. He also told us that if we would be 100% morning schedule missionaries, and read from the Book of Mormon 30 minutes every day, we would experience a spiritual tsunami and that the number of convert baptisms in our mission would double. I thought it was appropriate to title this email/blurb 'Bonsai!' because of the blessings and tender mercies the Lord has poured out upon us here in the Louisiana Baton Rouge Mission.

In July, we saw the beginning of the fulfilment of that promise from Elder Kikuchi. We were blessed to see 41 people enter the waters of baptism for our entire mission---five of which Sister Santos and I were personally able to see. As for August, we're still seeing many miracles, and we have three investigators with baptismal dates for this month so far. Elder Kikuchi also promised us that if we would contact at least 80 people a week, our teaching pool would be full. I have personally seen this blessing in the work here in Houma, and can humbly add my testimony of how it's affected me as a servant of the Lord. There really are good people out here, searching for the truth. And they aren't just in the poorer parts of town. There are good people everywhere, and they all deserve the chance to hear the gospel.

This last week we had our zone conference, and I cannot express enough gratitude to the Lord for the inspired messages we heard there. I don't know what everyone else got out of them; it felt as though President and Sister Woods and Elders Broadley and Nnah were talking directly to me. Seriously, every single thing that was said was an answer to a struggle or question I'd been having. I am in awe and amazement at how merciful our Father in Heaven truly is. I am so blessed! And I deserve absolutely none of it. How tenderly our Savior loves us! It truly gives us reason to rejoice, to shout, "Bonsai!" I am so grateful that I get to be a servant of the Lord here in Louisiana.

I love you all! Y'all are just awesome! Keep on keepin' on, and know that the Savior yet lives! He loves each and every one of us, as does our Father in Heaven. They desire only the very best for us, and as we listen and follow Their instructions, we will receive so many blessings that "there shall not be room enough to receive [them]." (Malachi 3:10) The power of prayer is very real---Satan trembles when he sees the weakest saint upon his knees. I know God lives, I know He loves me. I know He hears and answers prayers. I know that because of His tender mercy and the power of the priesthood, our families are united for all eternity. It is my privilege to bear this witness of our Father and of our Savior, and I do so in the sacred name of the Savior Jesus Christ, amen.

Your Friend in the Faith,
Sister Pedersen

Having a blast here in Houma!

Yup, that's right folks! Transfers have come and gone, and BLESSING FROM HEAVEN, I'm still hanging out in heavenly Houma! HOORAY!!!!

Sorry I didn't write last week...surprisingly, I was crunched for time with emails! (I know, BIG shock, huh?) ;)

Well, we're doing great down here---surviving the heat, and finding awesome people to teach the gospel too! We found a couple cool new families that we're really excited about---the Fanguys (pronounced "fungys"), and the Jacksons (and they actually do have a son named Michael!). We've got an appointment with the Fanguys tomorrow, so we're super excited for that. We taught the Jacksons about the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ on Saturday, and we're going to call Sharon tomorrow to find out when we can come over again---that's when she'll have her work schedule.

The Parfaits are hanging in there. As usually happens when we make a firm stance against the advesary, they've been hit with some heavy burdens. Any prayers in their behalf would be awesome. I think I'm starting to get an idea of what it feels like to be a parent----it hurts. I felt like screaming at the devil yesterday, "Just leave them alone!!!" when the Parfaits were telling us about their struggles. But at the same time, I know that they NEED this test of faith so that they can have the strength to face the rest of their lives. They're doing great, faith-wise. They understand why life all of a sudden got tougher. But it still hurts to see them suffer. My love and respect for Heavenly Father has grown even more---I feel like I understand Him a little better. What strength He has! He has the power and the capability to take all our pains and struggles away, but He does not because He knows we need it. Ugh. I couldn't do that. I'm not that strong. Thank heavens He's in charge!

McShane and Falon are doing great. McShane got things worked out with his boss so that he can come to sacrament every Sunday, which is a total blessing! They're hard people to catch at home, so we haven't been able to have a sit-down lesson with them this last week, but we're going to set something up for Thursday, probably. If I remember right, they both have at least part of that day off.

AND...we are working with an awesome part-member family, the Naquins. Brett and Sandy are so much fun, and Brett comes to church every week. You'd never guess he wasn't a member. But anyways, we had a good lesson with them and their two cute little boys yesterday. We talked about the power and protection that prayer and the scriptures give us. Then Sister Santos boldly committed Brett to prepare to be baptized on the 22nd. He said he would, so we're planning another baptism for this month! I was a little hesitant to commit him, because I know he's been pushed in the past, but I also know that he'll let us know if he isn't ready. Until then, we're going to shower them with as much love as possible, to show him that we're asking him to do this because we care, and not because we're just trying to get him wet.

We've got zone conference this week---President Woods is switching the schedule around. I'm helping the sisters in Metairie do a musical number. We decided to pick a hymn that people aren't familiar with---that way, when we mess up, no one will know the difference! Sister Riddle thought of that one...pretty smart, huh? And, as I like to tell people, the scriptures tell us to "make a joyful noise" (see Psalms 81:1, 95:1-2). They never say it has to sound good. :)

But in case I get called on...which, knowing Sister Woods, is more than likely going to happen...if anyone has any good arrangements of hymns or EFY songs that they'd like to send me, I would be most grateful! You can mail it to me (485 Grand Caillou Apt. E, Houma, LA 70363) or you can email it to me, and I can print it off at the library (morganjpedersen@myldsmail.net).

I love y'all! Congratulations to Adam Wilcock! You're going to do wonders in Texas! And congrats to Daniel Worwood, who definitely returned with honor from Indonesia. Way to go.

Keep on keepin' on, everyone!

Your Friend in the Faith,
Sister Pedersen