Pictures of Awesomeness (Feb 24, 2014)

This is us in our basement wearing helmets and glow sticks after
getting a tornado watch in our area. We had winds up to 65mph that
night along with some crazy lightning.

Letter from Tate, Feb. 17, 2014 + PHOTOS!!

Hello family and loved ones! I hope that you all had a wonderful
valentines day and that you all are staying warm with all this cold
weather....

This week has been pretty darn great, here's the synopsis:

- A man named Chris who is paralyzed from the neck down has decided to
overcome his fear of water and be baptized. The Matthews have been
working with him for a while now, and Chris now has the faith that
everything will be okay.

-A lady who we have been teaching for a while now and her boyfriend,
thanks to pure inspiration, have decided to come to church!!!

-Amanda Brown's father walked in while we were teaching her about the
restoration and he paid very close attention (which is a first) and he
talked to Amanda about it after we left. He asked her about Joseph
Smith and he seemed amazed with all that our saints went through.

- We didn't let anything get in the way of Valentines Day... We had a
festive breakfast and baked cupcakes that we delivered to people and
we went out to dinner with Phyllis (one of our investigators)

- We were out in the middle of nowhere in a desperate search for gas
and we came by a very old gas station that had a manual pump and
everything!

-We found out that we will be moving into the Matthews house when they
leave. On the plus side, they have a washer and dryer downstairs (no
more scary basement) but even though we will be updating our living
circumstances we are really going to miss the Matthews- they have done
so much to forward the work here and we love them to pieces.

Love you all to pieces! Don't forget to "Let your light so shine..."!

 -Sister P.

Letter from Tate Feb. 10, 2014

Hello family members and loved ones! 

Here's a little update on how things have been going down here in snowy Tompkinsville. I love you all and I hope that all is well! 

-We have had ice/snow storms every day this week and it is getting a bit ridiculous.

-Amanda Brown is having her baby so soon! She has asked that me and Sister Dixon go with her when she has it and well, it was approved.

Never thought I would be asked that on my mission...

- we got iPads! We love them and use them all the time with lessons
now. The gospel library has all the lds magazines, videos, and
conference talks.Talk about awesome.

-Our ward had a "Wild Beast Feast" on Saturday night. It was a giant pot-luck and people

brought all different sorts of "beasts" to share. I can now check off my bucket list that I've eaten deer meat. Ha, only in Kentucky.

-Thanks to our wonderful senior missionaries, we have been asked to sing in pretty much EVERY meeting that we go to. Everyone

has told us that we need to go on tour after our mission. Yep, I can see it. I mean, we are only 2 hours from the music capital. So hey, it shouldn't

be that hard.

-Miracles, miracles, and oh hey... More miracles! We are definitely seeing the Lord's hand in everything we do in Tompkinsville. 

There is a woman here who left the church 5 years ago and has finally decided to come back. All it took was a little fellowship from the ward and she was set.

-We might be moving houses! The Matthews will be going home soon and they asked president if we could live where they are living now... They can literally see the church building from their house, so that would be wonderful if it ends up happening! 

Alrighty, love you all bunches! 

--Sister Peterson 

Letter from Tate, Jan. 28, 2014 + 2 photos

Hello family and loved ones! 

This week has been pretty darn fantastic, I tell you what.

- Amber and Chandler were baptized yesterday. It was so amazing... the spirit was so strong in the room. We had a lot of people there and some of Ambers non-member family came too (that was awesome). Derek (Ambers husband) was able to baptize them both and that was a huge miracle. Next Step: Get this family to the temple! 

-We went to visit Amanda Brown on Thursday. We made plans with Amanda at the beginning of the week to come help around the house, etc. on Thursday because she is pregnant and has kidney stones and is understandably not able to do much. But anyways, we get there on Thursday and Amanda's dad says that Amanda is too tired so we can't see her but it was freezing outside so he let us come in for a little bit. Luckily, Sister Dixon was determined to see Amanda. We knew that she needed us that day. We saw some clothes on the couch so I said "well we could fold these clothes for you". He (kind of) agreed so we just got going on it and chatted with him about this or that. When the clothes were folded Sister Dixon said "Well I'm just going to take these back to Amanda" and she did before he could stop her. But when we got back there we found her laying on a bed with no sheets surrounded by garbage. The reason why they didn't want us to go back was because they were embarrassed, but both of them are just simply not able to. We got to work cleaning and folding and we got Amanda to sit up on a chair so that we could put sheets on the bed, etc. While she was sitting we brushed her hair because it was in knots and even trimmed the ends a bit at her request.  We had such a good time with her and it was so wonderful to leave her in a room where she would be comfortable and feel peace. We will go back each week to do the same thing. 

- Christy Hammer is doing so well! (She is an investigator that we found a while ago) she is praying for the strength to tell her VERY Church of Christ family that she is going to baptized and we have plans to start the stop smoking program with her on Wednesday. Please keep her in your prayers... we know that this is going to be hard. 

-Phyllis.... where do I even start? I love this woman. She is real character. I just have to tell you about her really quick... she's like sixty years old, super tan, bright red LONG nails, obsessed with Betty Boop, brutally honest, low scratchy voice...she is one of those tough on the outside people that has the softest heart of anyone.. you know the kind I mean? She comes to church almost every week in one of her sparkly red tops and she feels the spirit every time we come over, but she just cannot quit smoking. It makes me SO sad because we want her to have these blessings and she wants them too. Man, Word of Wisdom is killin us these days.. we are trying everything, but most people here have been smoking or chewing (or both) since they were kids. We are trying to implement better ways to help people but in the mean time it's just driving us crazy. Darn Satan... 

-We started teaching this ex-convict gangsta guy and he is SO SOLID. Seriously, he wants so badly to change his life and for the past two years he has been drug free, crime free, etc. We taught him about the atonement and he was so focused in on what we were saying. One of his friends who used to be into the same kind of things is currently a really active member of our ward and he is on board to help us teach David. He should be coming to our FHE tonight in Burkesville so I'll keep you posted on that one!

-Today during our p-day we went to visit an Amish Iridologist who looked into our eyes and told us some of the coolest things and he was able to give me some herbs to help with my headaches (missionary stress... it'll get to ya). He is a father of 12 and lives out in the middle of nowhere. Coolest dude EVER. 

I love you all and I hope that your week was as awesome as mine! 

xoxo

--Sister Peterson

pictured below: 

Me with my good friend Geneva down at the nursing home

Us with the Scott family before their baptism! 

The Tompkinsville Weekly Update: By Sister Peterson (Jan. 20, 2014)

Hello wonderful family! 

Here is a quick update of how things have been down here in the wonderful south.

-We are making very good progress with our contacts! All the people that were faltering are now stronger than ever and we plan on them staying that way. There's this woman named Phyllis and she has felt the spirit stronger than any of our investigators, and she knows that it's true, but she is having a really hard time with quitting smoking (shocker there). I finally broke on her and straight up said, "Phyllis, you need to try to quit. You know it's what Heavenly Father wants and I know that if you quit smoking you will be so blessed and I promise that the Lord will take away all your anxiety and depression if you do." It came out of nowhere and I was really surprised that I said it and quite scared to what her reaction would be, but she simply sat there, a bit shocked as well, and said, "Okay, I'm going to try." HALLELUJAH! The spirit TOTALLY spoke through me and it was exactly what she needed to hear. So yeah, that was cool.

-With finding new investigators we have had some luck. Yesterday we went to go visit an investigator and she had her friend over which was perfect because we were on The Plan of Salvation. After the lesson, her friend asked if she could have a Book of Mormon and she told us that everything we taught her made perfect sense. It's so cool how Heavenly Father prepares people and will throw them in our path. We have met 2 other investigators, but they are slowly but surely coming along.

-So far, I have tracted (knocked on random doors) once. We have 40 referrals so far so it's easy to say that we are very very busy. I love it.

-The hardest thing about Missionary work for me is the early rising. Waking up at 6:30 has been SO HARD. Even though we go to bed at 10:30PM I still find myself walking around like a zombie all morning. I thought it would get easier, but boy was I wrong. Sister Dixon has been out here for 4 months and she still has a problem with it. I am permanently tired, but I stay awake and attentive thanks to snacking on good fruits and most likely Heavenly Father.

-Missionary work is so rewarding overall. I am learning so much about time management, how to take care of myself, and I am especially learning some really great social skills. I love it. Even though I'm out here doing service for the Lord to thank him for all he does, he blesses me even more.

-I try writing in my journal every week. With all the time that I don't have, finding that 3 minute break to write in my journal is a bit challenging, but I promise you that I will do better. I just think of my future kids reading through my journal and seeing nothing and I don't want that to happen.

Please pray for Amber Scott, Chandler Scott, Derek Scott, Phyllis, Jesse Adams and last and not least, PLEASE pray for Amanda Brown. Amanda is 7 months pregnant and she just barely had her first doctor's check up, but don't fret, all is well. She is having a baby boy. She does however, have very bad anxiety, depression, and she has been passing a couple kidney stones this past week.

I love and miss you all like crazy. Stay healthy and stay happy!

--Sister Peterson

Here are some photos: 

 A Warning sign from a fellow Christian Church.

 A bridge I thought was pretty. There is a small stream below it and it reminded me of Grandpa Andersen for some reason.

 A wonderful cow mailbox.

Letter from Tate, Jan. 20, 2014

Hello wonderful family! 

Here is a quick update of how things have been down here in the wonderful south.

-We are making very good progress with our contacts! All the people that were faltering are now stronger than ever and we plan on them staying that way. There's this woman named Phyllis and she has felt the spirit stronger than any of our investigators, and she knows that it's true, but she is having a really hard time with quitting smoking (shocker there). I finally broke on her and straight up said, "Phyllis, you need to try to quit. You know it's what Heavenly Father wants and I know that if you quit smoking you will be so blessed and I promise that the Lord will take away all your anxiety and depression if you do." It came out of nowhere and I was really surprised that I said it and quite scared to what her reaction would be, but she simply sat there, a bit shocked as well, and said, "Okay, I'm going to try." HALLELUJAH! The spirit TOTALLY spoke through me and it was exactly what she needed to hear. So yeah, that was cool.

-With finding new investigators we have had some luck. Yesterday we went to go visit an investigator and she had her friend over which was perfect because we were on The Plan of Salvation. After the lesson, her friend asked if she could have a Book of Mormon and she told us that everything we taught her made perfect sense. It's so cool how Heavenly Father prepares people and will throw them in our path. We have met 2 other investigators, but they are slowly but surely coming along.

-So far, I have tracted (knocked on random doors) once. We have 40 referrals so far so it's easy to say that we are very very busy. I love it.

-The hardest thing about Missionary work for me is the early rising. Waking up at 6:30 has been SO HARD. Even though we go to bed at 10:30PM I still find myself walking around like a zombie all morning. I thought it would get easier, but boy was I wrong. Sister Dixon has been out here for 4 months and she still has a problem with it. I am permanently tired, but I stay awake and attentive thanks to snacking on good fruits and most likely Heavenly Father.

-Missionary work is so rewarding overall. I am learning so much about time management, how to take care of myself, and I am especially learning some really great social skills. I love it. Even though I'm out here doing service for the Lord to thank him for all he does, he blesses me even more.

-I try writing in my journal every week. With all the time that I don't have, finding that 3 minute break to write in my journal is a bit challenging, but I promise you that I will do better. I just think of my future kids reading through my journal and seeing nothing and I don't want that to happen.

Please pray for Amber Scott, Chandler Scott, Derek Scott, Phyllis, Jesse Adams and last and not least, PLEASE pray for Amanda Brown. Amanda is 7 months pregnant and she just barely had her first doctor's check up, but don't fret, all is well. She is having a baby boy. She does however, have very bad anxiety, depression, and she has been passing a couple kidney stones this past week.

I love and miss you all like crazy. Stay healthy and stay happy!

--Sister Peterson

Me and Sister Dixon! Aka. My twin