Did you just eat the vertebrae?

(Sister Slade)

Today's title comes from today's lunch. Sister Jelderks had bought canned salmon and made salmon patties. Unfortunately they didn't take the vertebrae out of the salmon and sister Jelderks made the patties without realizing. So she ate her salmon patty with the vertebra in it. When she had one bite left she realized that there was a vertebra in it. She decided to eat the last bite any way.

This week was really good because Johana was baptized! It was really neat to be a part of it. I've been here for all of it except her first lesson. I've loved seeing how the gospel truly changes people and their lives. What's even better is when they are able to see it. Johana didn't pray when we met her, last Sunday she bore her testimony in Relief society on the power of prayer. She told us this week that she realized that she didn't have to be perfect to be baptized but that baptism was a step towards becoming perfect. A few months ago she didn't think she was worthy to even come to church. I'm so happy for her.

Other exciting things that happened this week: we walked 3 miles to the animal shelter for service and then 3 miles home. Johana's 2 year old daughter saw us when she walked into church and got really happy and yelled, "Hola Amigas!" It was really cute, especially since she doesn't speak coherently 90% of the time. We got to hold week old baby bunnies. That was almost as cute as Johanny.

God is good!

Sister Slade

pictures:

1-2. Johana's baptism!

3-6. Washing dogs at the animal shelter

7-8. Us at the church waiting for Johana's baptismal interview

9-11. the baby bunnies

Well that was Awko-Taco

(Elder Slade)

To the best Friends and Family a person could hope for,   

For those of you who are wondering, yes. It is cold here. Very cold. Most nights it gets in to the negatives, and everything is covered in snow. Fortunately we have a car though and we don't have to walk in it. In this area we cover an entire stake, or seven wards, so that is an added reason to be grateful for the car. The hardest part for me is trying to learn all of the members names. I think I have about 3% of them memorized. I'd say that's off to a good start. A bonus with having so many members is that we get fed almost every night. We also get special treatment, as at a recent ward chili cook-off, they asked us to be the judges. So I got to try about 25 different types of Chili! they were so good! All except the one that had hot dogs in it.

This Saturday, I had my first companion exchange! I got put in a trio in a walking area in north Rexburg. My companions were Elder Fa'aumu (I can't pronounce it either) from Tonga, and Elder McGuire from Utah, but who has been serving in Hong Kong, until they took the missionaries serving there out due to the Coronavirus. If I come home sick due to the Coronavirus, blame him. Lol just kidding. He's pretty cool! I learned a lot from that exchange, like don't forget your hat at home, when you know you'll be walking in the cold, and how to better listen to the spirit.

A few miracles happened this week! We found a new person to teach Tuesday, named Sarah, who we'll be teaching again Wednesday. I'm excited for that! We also fasted Tuesday and prayed many times for this boy and girl Dax and Jazlyn to have the courage to ask their mom if they can be baptized, and for her to say yes, since she is kind of anti-mormon. Just last night we got a text that said they asked their mom, and she said yes! Elder Leavitt has been teaching them for about 6 months, so it is so awesome to see them taking that final step. Hopefully tonight we'll be setting a date for them. Also, last night, we got a miraculous text that our ward mission leader had been talking with a family that hadn't been interested for many years. Apparently they came over last night and started asking questions and after discussing them a bit, they said that they want to start taking the lessons! I want to testify that God is helping in missionary work. He is making miracles for happening. And I know that part of that is due to the many prayers some of you have been saying to help the missionaries around the world, so thank you!

Many of these miracles have happened due to the love and support of members. When people show kindness and Christ-like Love to their neighbors, wonderful things can happen. Everything Heavenly Father has given to us, is out of Love, and so the least we can do, is to try to love his children. We must look at people for who God sees them as. We must look at people for who they can become, and not for who they were or are. For all are Children of God and are loved by him. My invitation to you this week, is to try to do something kind and loving to your neighbor, or loved one. I know you will be blessed with happiness when you do this.

What day of the week do potatoes hate the most? Fry-day (Such a Dad joke, I know)

Pictures:

1. My trio for a day

2. I told you.

3. Despite the cold, there are some beautiful skies here *As a single tear falls down my face* So beautiful!

4. Icicles

5. Me

6. Lot of snow

Well. I guess I forgot to explain the title. Oops, I'll get this down eventually. I still have 23 months left (as of two days ago). The title came from elder Leavitt after we knocked on a door. I made eye contact with a person inside in the window. He looked at me. I looked at him. I waved. He went back to looking at his phone. We knocked several more times. He still ignored us. Then he just got up and went to a different room. Good times. Anyways, it was actually pretty funny.

Feb 26 2020

(Elder Petersen)

So this week was my first full week up here in Malad! It has been great up here so far although it has been really slow in that time in missionary work in general so there is not going to be a lot in this letter. My companion is Elder Cianciotto pronounced Since-I-Otto he is a great companion and has already taught me a lot in the short time that we have been companions. He is from Alabama and has been out about 13-14 months now. Sorry the email is so short this week.

Im a lobster in the sun!

(Sister Slade)

This week sister jelderks said something about how in sun light my hair looks like a halo and my skin looks really white. Then she started humming "brightly beams our father's mercy" and on the second line I interchanged the lyrics for what today's email title is. We had a good laugh.

The most exciting thing that happened this week is that Johana got married! (Remind me to never plan another wedding. It's really stressful). It was a really cool experience though. Johana wasn't expecting much for it but some members in our ward had a ton of wedding supplies and helped us plan and set up. She cried when she saw everything. We made the cake and we were her bridesmaids. I also played pachelbel's canon in c for her to walk down the aisle. (Side note: the family that had all the decorations was the same family that said I should date their son and quite a few jokes about it were made as we were preparing for the wedding). I'm so happy for Johana. Marriage is definitely ordained of God. There was a special spirit at the ceremony.

God is good!

Sister Slade

Pictures:

1. A really creepy deer we found at service

2. We tested lightbulbs at service and it looks like my hand is on fire

3-4. I made a quilt for sister Jelderks without her knowing and I finished and gave it to her this week.

5-11.The adventure of making the cake for the wedding

12-13. the finished cake

14-18. The wedding!❤

19-20. Car selfies

Elder Renlund

(Hermana Ellsworth)

This week we had An Apostle of the Lord come to our mission. Elder Renlund is a special witness that Jesus Christ lives. It was one of the most spiritually powerful conferences I have ever been in. He talked about how our attitude and efforts must both be positive in order to work miracles. I loved that. I loved how he focuses on how our personal decisions such as our personal commitment to follow the Lord's commandments is what the Lord needs us to do. The Lord wants us to be people of our word. He wants us to do what we said we would do. God cannot lie and we should not even think about breaking the covenants that we have made with God. Decisions to keep Commandments such as keeping the Law of Chastity, living the Word of Wisdom and Keeping the Sabbath day Holy should have already been made. It makes keeping them in the Moments all that much easier.

               He also talked about the importance to be united with the church and then the baptism and conversion comes. There are too many people who go inactive because they are lacking uniting to the Church of Jesus Christ. In the story of Alma organizing the church he always states that those who united with the church where then baptized and converted. It is very important to know the history, doctrine, and have a divine witness that this is the Church of Jesus Christ.

               We are working hard in Trujillo Alto and I know that the Lord is blessing this island. I will not return until I have done what the Lord has commanded me to do :) and we are going to build a temple spiritually through the testimonies of the individuals here in Puerto Rico. I love this island so much and I know that Heavenly Father is aware of all that happens here and in every part of the world.

Yes Im fan-girling over addiction recovery programs

(Elder Slade)

So... It's been pretty wild the past week and a half.

So on Sunday, I got Elder Lavold back from "isolation." I was so glad to be his companion again! I love that man! It's also hard to be in a trio. On Monday afternoon, I played an accompaniment with a few sisters in my zone singing for a special music number for a devotional for incoming Senior missionaries. The song was If You Could Hie To Kolob mixed with Come Thou Font. It was a beautiful arrangement and so fun!!! I'm glad my piano playing was able to be of some use. The title for this week was from Elder Dansie in my district when we were talking about the church's addiction recovery program. I love elder Dansie! He is a crazy wonderful man.

I left the MTC on Wednesday morning on a van that took us to Idaho Falls. I was both sad and excited to go. I grew to become so close to my MTC district. I loved all of them! And my teachers in the MTC, Sister Grigg and Sister Bell, were the best teachers ever! They prepared me so much for the field, and grew my testimony so much as well. I loved learning from them. I was glad to be finally going out in the field and teaching people however. The thing about the MTC is that it builds desire in you to share the gospel and love the people you are called to serve.

We arrived at the mission office in late afternoon and we (the 8 or so that were in the van going to Idaho Falls) met our missionary president, President Hurley! So far, I am so impressed by him and his testimony and desire to build obedience and consecration in the missionaries he is called to take care of. Partly because of him, there is so much work in this area. In December alone, over 500 new people were found in the entire mission! We had dinner at his family's house. The next morning we got some training and we received our first companion and were told our first area. My trainer's name is Elder Leavitt and we are serving in the Sugar City area, near Rexburg!

I could not have asked for a better companion than Elder Leavitt! He has been out 13 months, and he is one of the most consecrated and obedient missionaries ever. His testimony and love for the people is so strong, and I am so grateful to have him as my first companion. I think we are going to do some wonderful work here in Sugar City! In fact, we are teaching and finding people like crazy, and we have already seen several small miracles. One miracle we had is that we stopped by a house of a person we received a referral for, but they weren't home. We decided to knock on the house on the other side of the street, who we thought were nonmembers. We were greeted with a big smile and a happy "Hello Elders!" Apparently they were return mission presidents from Mexico. They gave us some advice that I really needed, and overall just uplifted us with their kind spirit. It was a cool experience.

There's a lot I could still tell you (like how the members have given us so much food and candy) but I think the most important thing I could share is that you, every single one of you, are loved by God. You are his child, and he wants what's best for you. Never forget that when you are down, lonely, depressed, or discouraged you have a Savior that has gone through what you are going through. He loves you and wants to comfort and take care of you. You just have to turn to him.

Interesting Idaho Fact: Idaho exports more than 13 Billion pounds of potatoes per year. I guess you could say that's potato-tally crazy! (I know. I'm cringing over that horrible pun as well.)

Pictures:

1. Elder Leavitt and I

2. Two kids, Caden and Colton, that we are teaching (Caden plans on getting baptized on the 29th!)

3. Me preparing to go down a slide in the mansion of a devotional we went to Sunday

4. Yep. I'm in Idaho.

5. My mission president and his wife

6. One of the best meals in the MTC we received

7. My MTC district with our teacher Sister Bell

8. Me, elder Bailey, and Elder Lavold from our district who all went to Idaho Falls

9. Nicholas Cage on a piece of ham. What happens in the MTC, stays in the MTC. Nuf said.

10. My MTC district with our teacher Sister Grigg

Feb 18, 2020

(Elder Petersen)

So this week was an pretty interesting week. We had transfers on Wednesday so the few days before that were pretty much filled up with me packing and saying goodbye to the friends that I had made in my time spent in Providence. Then on Wednesday when I moved to my new area and got to meet my new companion, his name is Elder Cianciotto. The only problem though which is what makes this an interesting week is the fact that the day that I got here Elder Cianciotto got sick and so we have really not had a normal day since I got here so in reality the highlight of my past week was being transferred to a new area. Hopefully I will have more to tell y'all next week but until then see have a great week!