9/24/2012

         This week we met with a couple about mid 40's or 50's and had a great lesson with them before they leave for a two month vacation. We met them in a park two weeks ago and went to a little cafe to get some drinks. We talked about a lot of things including, engineering, English, their sons, and the gospel. We gave them a picture that my companion sketched of Jesus holding a sheep. I’m sure you have seen it before. They were very happy to give us their number and meet with us again.
          We called them all throughout the week to try and get a meeting with them before they left. We finally got to meet with them again this Tuesday, the day before they left for their vacation. We walked with them through the same park where we met them and sat down at a little stone table. They had made us some Banitsa and so we ate it together. After that we started talking with them about the restoration and the apostasy. They were very interested and seemed to be in agreement with everything we told them. When we were about done I extended a challenge to them. We read Moroni 10:3-5. When I asked Stephanie to read it she said she can't read at all without her glasses, which she didn't have with her. So I gave a book to her husband and he started to read it to himself. I felt prompted to give her my book even though she said she wouldn't be able to read it. When she looked down she started reading and had no problem reading every word. When she finished she looked up at me and said "this book is a gift from God, I can read it without my glasses!" They promised us they would read the book over their trip and we packed up to go. When we were about to part ways, Stephanie looked at us and said "We love you like our own children." We got big hugs from George and left. What great people there are to find when we just look in faith!
          That was the highlight of my week. Other than that we had one other meeting and when she came in and sat down she said, "last night I was thinking about you boys, I think I want to test your faith." Elder Ferwerda and I were at a loss for words. I am very thankful though at that point a member walked into the room and stayed through the whole lesson with us. It is obvious that there is a very good reason why we are in companionships. And I am thankful for that. Well I hope that is enough for you because I don't have any other things to say!

Love, Elder Petersen

9/17/2012

MOM,
About the villages and stuff, no they don't have country homes, they have these little shacks out in the villages and pretty much the have gardens that they care for on the weekends. They pretty much all live in the cities. They have these things called blocks that are just really tall buildings with lots of apartments inside of them that are pretty small. This is where 85% of people in Bulgaria live.
         So no we don't get member referrals. There are so few members that they have all been asked about a million times. 95% of our investigators come from people we just find on the street. And, no we don't have any wards just branches. It did start to cool off! I am actually wearing a long sleeve shirt RIGHT NOW! But it has been raining pretty good for the past couple of days! Which reminds me, if the Holy Ghost tells you to go back up the stairs and grab your umbrella, you better do it! Lesson well learned. :)
         I'm all out of cool things... OH WAIT! We found this really cool couple! They are about mid 40's and they are soooo interested! But they are going on a 2 month vacation tomorrow! So we need to meet them soon! Actually they called us to set up a meeting! THAT NEVER HAPPENS!! Anyway yeah they are really cool! So cool that they have jobs! And don't want the church for money! And they are super cool... :)
          Anyway, Send my love to the family and please, please, please, please get Karl to send me something so I can write him!
LOVE, Elder Petersen

9/10/2012

This week was pretty exciting here in Bulgaria! On Thursday it was Bulgaria day I guess! So nobody was working and everyone went out of the city and stayed in their villages for the weekend! That’s what people do here in Sofia, the city is surrounded by a bunch of little villages and EVERY Saturday and Sunday about 3/4 of the population all leaves the city and so it’s very dead! But, anyway, on Thursday it was a holiday so they all just figured the next day is Friday so they take that one off too! It’s very interesting logic but I can't say I disagree! Except there was no one to teach from Thursday until today!
          We had a baptism this week! And by WE, I mean a companionship in this city baptized someone this week! It was super cool to see how very happy he was! And he only had to be dunked once! His name is Mario and he is a very lively guy who loves to joke and play with the missionaries but he also has a strong testimony.
           I also am meeting with a member every Tuesday at 5 p.m. and she is giving me a Bulgarian lesson! She is so awesome! She has the strongest testimony I have ever seen and she LOVES to share it! Her name is Elka and she is pretty much the bomb! I’ll get a picture with her this week so I can send it to you!
            I have been reading Jesus the Christ and I have just realized how much I don't know about things he did when he was on the earth! It is such a good book and it really helps us understand what Christ did and how to understand the atonement better! You should definitely read it!
            In Sofia where I am at right now just in case you forgot. We play a lot of football (Soccer) on p-days! I never knew how much fun it was until I got here! I think I should have done that when I was growing up instead of other things because it is pretty much awesome! Plus I get to play with Europeans all the time and they are pretty much the best so I have to learn real fast like! ........yeah I’m pretty much out of things....                                                 Love, Elder Petersen

Sept 3, 2012

Okay, This week has not been so great. We started out by playing football on p-day by renting a mini field for 50 lev for an hour an a half and ten of us played. It was tons of fun! We are planning on doing the same this week, but me and my companion Elder Ferwerda invited two young kids from a park to come play with us! I guess my perspective of young has changed because they are probably 20-22 years old. Should be super fun!
     On Tuesday we didn't find anyone new to talk to and we had lesson after lesson fall through. On Wednesday we had district meeting so we didn't start working until 2 pm which is fine but we weren't able to find anyone new and had no lessons. On Thursday I found one person who gave us his number to meet again. We are looking forward to calling him this week! On friday we found the two guys who should come play football with us today. On Saturday we had English class until 11 then the mission president offered us free pizza and how could we turn that down? Then we went home and studied the language for an hour and then got dressed to go to a fun night activity. We got all our investigators in both Sofia branches and some members and we went to a park and played games and ate MORE pizza for about 4 hours. It was loads of fun, but by the time it was over it was time to go home so we only logged 2 missionary work hours that day. Usually we aim for 6-8 so 2 is not that great.
     There is a member in my Branch called Elka and she is going to help me with some language studing! She has a very powerful testimony and she likes to help me learn better how to express mine in Bulgarian. She will pretend to be an investigator until I get every word right and she is happy with it! It is alot of help!
     Also today I sent in 6 ties to the shevashka to have her make them skinny! I think they are pretty cool looking when they are skinny like that and I probably won't have any fat ones by the time I get home! Also another thing missionaries do here is get shirts taken in? I don't know how to call it but they are just smaller and they look so much better than all the ones I have that are all poofy at the bottom! >.<
     Anyway I'm pretty much out of stuff to say. Just let everyone know that I love them!
Love, Elder Petersen