Kylie's letter 1/14/2013

Hey fam-

This week was good. Yesterday was kind of a bummer because of some things. We got chewed out by this lady - oh my goodness gracious- I have never felt so much hate coming from person just because of our religion. We just sat there and listened and I asked a few questions and it was obvious she didn't know anything about the church, only what her pastor had told her. I tried to explain and to help her understand but she wouldn't let us talk. So we just sat there and listened and listened and listened to this woman proclaim she was a person of God and that God loved here even though she drank and smoke, and drinks coffee, etc. etc. and that we were a Satan worshiping cult etc. etc. and that she doesn't know Mormon etc. etc. After about 1/2 hour of this I asked her if I could say something. And she said yes - I bore my testimony that I know that we have a loving Heavenly Father and the He loves her just as much as me and that the church and the Book of Mormon were true because God told me through the spirit. And that I couldn't deny that. There isn't anyone or anything that a person can say that will make me change the path I am on. I ended with a prayer and prayed that God would help her learn to love other people and have respect for other people's differences and that she could be happy. Then we gave goodbye kisses and left. I think she kind of felt stupid after, because she apologized. But she has been corrupting our investigator which makes me mad. She is the mom of Nayara who is the wife of our little elect family who now wants nothing to do with the church. But the husband still believes. And I know everything will work out.  It is always good to suffer a little for the name of Jesus Christ. Makes me appreciate the atonement a little better.

That was last night - but the rest of the week has been filled with wonderful miracles and spiritual experiences. One such was when we were tracting and clapping on doors and we found a woman who said that she had been praying to God to help better her life. She said that she would not enter into His house unless He helped get her life to be better. And then we showed up. She is a really sweet old lady - and I want to help her. Her husband died and she is struggling with a lot of things. I am hoping we can mark a baptismal date with her this week. We will see.

Our one investigator Felipe who is super duper interesting is still reading the Book of Mormon but still thinks that it isn't necessary to go to church and to be baptized by water. Even after I showed every scripture in the bible and Book of Mormon to prove to him, he still has these ridiculous thoughts. But he is a good kid. He will come around. We are bringing the bishop with us to our next visit. He just needs a spiritual experience.

We had interviews this week as well. We have transfers in two weeks and  President said that I will be staying in Campos and I will be training again. So that will be nice. The more advanced in the mission I get - the more I like change. I will miss sister Moyano but it will be fun to have a new comp. It will either be a Brasi or an American. I want the Brasi just to better my Portuguese but we will see. k- my time is up

love you lots

ky

Kylie's letter 1/6/13

Happy new year hope Pine Valley was really cold and fun. I have been melting here. I don't think my sunscreen works either. Or maybe it is the fact that sweat and sunscreen don't really go together. or maybe everyone just things I am red all the time. I don't know, whatever it is, pretty sure I am going to have skin cancer. Pray for the DNA in my skin cells that they don't pass on the burned molecules. Thank you - I will sure appreciate it. 

But......this week was the new year and we got to go home a half an hour early. Whoop dee doo! But that is all good. P-day before we tie-dyed dresses and watched the sisters movie and then we left to do visits and we tried to find açaí but there was nothing open. And New Year's day we roamed the deserted streets finding houses of membros inactives. What a great day I know. But this week was really good. 

André e Nayara are super converted and firm in the faith. They are sharing the gospel with everyone. And Mara the mom got confirmed yesterday. 

And we have a new investigator that is super duper intriguing. he is going crazy about our lessons and the doctrine. He is a young man named Felipe and he is trying to find evidences - historical evidences that the Book of Mormon is true. And yes yes yes, we have told him time after time, that this is not the way to do it. He has questions about the temple in the Book of Mormon; how they built it in the way of Solomon, and about the Jaradites, and about all of these other random things. He is super hard to teach because we have to totally rely on the spirit to help him feel the spirit, yesterday we came to his house and he was watching some film of the church with Dallon H. Oaks, and the SLC temple. I have stopped asking him if he has questions because we lose focus. But I think he will get baptized, we just have to be reeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaallllly patient. He is going super duper slow. But he knows the Bible front and back and has accumulated his own personal belief about the gospel of Jesus Christ that is pretty much spot on. He knew about the laying on of hands to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. That never happens. So we will see what happens. 

We have some other people that have potential. But I am really content right now. You know how I said the mission was an emotional roller coaster. Well - I think I have finally hit the end and things are evening out and it is just pure happiness. Sure there are little bumps and hiccups along the way, but for the most part, I am just happy. Happy to be here, happy to be alive, and happy to see what God has in store for me this year. That is what this gospel does, makes us happy!!!

Sure love you all

Sis Peterson

Kylie's letter 12/31/12

I don´t think there is any better way to spend one whole year than to
the way I was able to spend it completely immersed in the work of the
Lord. Crazy to look back at this year and I think that I did this
every day all day for a whole year. This week was very special with
some great surprises. First off all I have to say is that it is super
hot and it doesn't make life any better when you don't have windows in
your apartment. Luckily, Sister Moyano and I we have our study room
close to the front door so I study with the door open. The other
sisters have a room more in the interior. Their room gets to be 90
degrees during the morning. Poor things. Every morning and night I
come home and make a jamba juice. I have officially mastered the
technique. You know how you always try to make a jamba juice but it
never really turns out right- it doesn't taste like a real jamba juice,
well - I have overcome that obstacle. I throw in some milk and some
ice and a little bit of sugar and and whatever type of tropical fruit
that is on sale. and just beat it all up in the blender And
whalaaaaaaaa! a perfectly cold and refreshing breakfast and dinner.
But - okay back to the stuff that really matters. No one really cares
about my jamba juice making skills. I know, I know...

So yesterday Mara Senhora, we have been teaching for these last 2
months was baptized. She is one of the most scheikiest people I have
baptized. Her picture is included. also André her son and Naiara his
soon to be wife bought rings!!!!! They are such a crazy little family.
I love all of them so much. There is a picture of them and their 3
little girls. They just need to register and get married and they too,
with their oldest daughter Meralyn, will get baptized! They are such a
perfect little family. I love them so much. They are one of God´s
miracles here in Campos - the city that I thought would not produce
many fruits. But faith and a lot of work does miracles. And God is
still blessing us with miracles.

This week we were about to cut one of our investigators. Both of us
felt something different about him, and we had only taught him two
times, and he is really hard to find in his house, so we had passed at
least 5 times and he was never there. So we made a decision to pass
again one more time and then cut him from our list of investigators.
We went and he was there!!!! He commented that it was really strange
that we showed up just 5 minutes after he got home. He said that he
was at the mall and he was planning on staying there until 9 ish, but
he didn't feel good. Something inside him told him that he shouldn't be
there that he should go home. He listened and followed the prompting
and we showed up 5 min. after he got home! He is a dentist and lives
with his aged parents and brother and he is Catholic and his name is
Marcus. He is traveling now but I feel that God has a lot in store for
him when he gets back.

But that is all for this week folks. Tuesday was so good to get to
talk to all of you. I hope everyone is happy. And I hope everyone
makes a lot of great new years goals!!!! Happy 2013

Sis Peterson

Kylie's letters and photos 12/25/12

FELIZ NATALLLL FAMÌLIAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

So here is the scoop. I sent a bunch of pictures to make up for the lack of email. The pictures are of a river of chocolate milk that is right next to our area. And of us making colxinha with some irmãs da igreja. And of our Christmas party the day of transfers. This week was great. The baptismal date of Mara fell but we had the interview yesterday and we remarked for this sunday. So hopefully things will work out.

congrats for the wedding survival. Now That you are all pro you guys can whip up a wedding for me and one of my hippie boyfriends right?!

 

haha

 

love you guys

 

até amanhã

 

ky

 

   

Kylie's letter 12/17/12

Happy wedding week for the participants and the engaged couple.

Be sure to take lots of cool pics and eat a bowl of tomato basil soup! Looooooooooooooooooooooooove that kind of soup. They have soup here with bananas in it. Actually they put bananas in everything rice and beans, pizza, macaroni. Yeah - so it turns out it is actually really good... But onto the good stuff. 

This last week I was able to be a part of a wedding here. I got to back to my home in Quissamã. I stayed there Friday and Saturday. It was so funny going back. I love that little town and my family there. It was an amazing weekend. We left the newbies in Campos to work and we headed off for the wedding, and more importantly the baptism, of a family we found our first week there with Sis Z and me. We worked with them almost every day and went to the wedding office place and bajillion times and they were finally married and baptized!!!! Remember Ana Maria and Jorge? They were married and they and their son were baptized. It was one of the happiest moments of the mission to see a family entering the church. And it was so good to go back to a place that I loooove so much and stay with members so simple but have such strong testimonies. It was pure bliss. It is moments like these that make every hour in the scorching sun worth it. "Life is beautiful, the gospel makes it so!" 

Transfers are tomorrow and all four of us will stay in Campos. I am really happy. Because I thought I would get transfered, but it all turned out great. I love the sisters I am living with. I sent home one of my old comapnions early this morning and only got 3 hrs of sleep. We stayed up talking and then I waited with her at the bus station forever. But it was really good to catch up with her. She lives in São Paulo. I am hoping to catch a glimpse of her when I come home. Speaking of which. I got the dreaded phone call. I was totally not expected it. The office elders called me to confirm flight plans and airports. I told them SLC and to put the date for Out 6. They unfortunatley told me that that was impossible. But I will be leaving Brasil March 6. So I will probably arrive March 7.  It makes me sick to think that I have to leave Brasil and take off my name tag. I love it here. 

Tonight we are spending the night at the train station with our elders in our zone to go to Vitória to party it up the day of transfers and celebrate Christmas. It is going to be great! I am gonna try to send pics. with the rest of my time. know tht I love each and every one of you. 

 

love you all

sister peterson

 

Kylie's letter 12/10/12

This week has been super duper hot. It was 105 Saturday. yeah. 105 and sunscreen and church clothes don't really mix. Here in Rio they have the custom to do 2 kisses instead of 1 on the cheek when you greet people and I have been opting for the oí tudo bem? and end it at that. Who wants to kiss a sweaty missionary that has been walking in the sun the whole day.

This week has been good. We are preparing a Senhora that is trying to stop smoking. Today is her goal to stop completely. She needs prayers. Her name is Mara. She is really sweet. She said she prayed for God to help her find a church a place that she could call her own and we showed up at her door clapping. Cool how God works isn't it?! Her date is for this Sunday I hope all turns out well.

And our little family is progressing too. They still need to get on the ball with the wedding.

Funny stories of the week are: elect scorpions and the law.

There has always been scorpions in every area, but here there are elect scorpions. I had gotten to the point of thinking that men don't really stop us to talk to us about religion. I had stopped being gullible and thinking that they actually want to hear something about the gospel. So with this attitude, I have just started to tell them to come to church and then we can talk. To my utter surprise they have been coming to church. One guy in particular ran (literally was sprinting after us and yelling for us to stop) after us yesterday and started talking about what church we were from and then started talking about English and my heritage and etc. etc. And he tried to get our information but I was not buying it. I told him we weren't here to talk to people about life and to play around etc.But we are here to baptize people, and if he wanted to talk about the gospel he could. And he was trying to be all convincing and saying things like - yeah I want to talk about the gospel I want to change my life etc. Etc. I wasn't buying it. I finally told him, that I know the men here and I have never had anyone run after me to talk about religion. He finally got on to what I was meaning. And he said, no I am not interested in you. (In my head I am thinking yeeeah right) Then I said - OK then go to church and if you go we will get your address and start visiting you. Then he asked me my name and got my name and started to leave. Very annoyed  and wanting to catch him in his words - I said - don't you want to know her name (pointing to Sister Moyano). And he said No and then did a double take realizing exactly what he just did and said that actually he did want to know her name. HA! I told you so... 

 MEN!!!!! What they will do for blond hair and blue eyes. And to my utter surprise. He came to church. He is the second of these elect scorpions that follow through with commitments. And we got his address. We will see how it will go. I have a very strong testimony that even scorpions can be touched by the spirit. So we will see how it goes. His name is Bruno.

Also this week we have had several people ask us if we are from the law and if we are CIA agents. Yep that is right. What a great undercover disguise. One particular encounter we were looking for a less active that apparently is in jail. And the man we asked for information. such as if he knew him, and where he lives etc. asked us if we were from the law. And we kind of laughed and said, "No". Then he got all scared and kept saying, - "No, I don't know anything, I don't know anything. Nope - Nothing".

Haha. Yep - we are from the Celestial law. I would be pretty scared too if two girls in cute flowery dresses and skirts showed up at my door.

Good luck with finals and wedding stuff. Remember that Christmas is all about Jesus Christ and the mission he came to accomplish. To pay for our faults, weaknesses, and sins. But He lives. And we will too.

 Spread the love. Proclaim the joy. And share the gospel!

love you all

ky

This is me and my cute little companion in the rain the one rainy day. here is way dryer than Vitoria. I like the sun better than the rain.

Kylie's Letter 12-3-12

CRAZZZZZY! it is already december. And it is nice and HOT! Time is just flying by! And things are going great. I think we are going to have a baptism this next week. It is the mom of the family we are teaching she is working on quitting smoking. Pray for her to have strength to stop. Her name is MARa. 

But this week was great! here are the highlights. 

- the family we are teaching asked us to be godmothers. So I now have three god daughters and I will be the one to carry the rings down the aisle. Shique huh! 

- One of my goddaughters has lice and I did her hair this Sunday. I have been washing my hair with vinegar this week to prevent lice. okay- so maybe I am a little over the top but I really dont want lice. So I have smelled like salad dressing all week. 

- My family from Quissamã came to stake conference yesterday. It was a great reunion. And My family that I taught for the last 3 months I was there, are getting married and baptized next week. So me and Sis Z are gonna try and work somthing out to get to see the wedding and the baptisms and do our baptisms here as well. There will be just too much happiness next weekened I dont know if I will be able to handle it. 

- spiritual moment--thought of the week. I have been learning how to be a good leader. And guess what it is? The same thing as missionary work. To be a missionary we help people come unto Christ throught faith, repentance, making and keeping sacred covenants until the end. And guess what- that is the same thing you should do with anyone and everyone. The real way to help people is the help them let Christ help them. And that is throught increasing their faith that will then lead them to repentance and the desire to keep their covenants. It all starts with faith and their relationshiop with God and their Savior and everything else just falls into place. 

But that is all for this week. Dan sent me a bunch of pics. And oh my goodness MASON IS HUGE!!!!!! weird wierd weird. 

Love you alll super duper muito muito. 

tchau

ky

ps The pic is of me and my zone. My little comapnion is on the far left. And I am on the far right. Just in case you didnt recongize me .