Hey everyone,
It sounds like things are going really well for everyone!! We watched it (last week's Womens' Conference) at our ward building, because our stake center is almost an hour away... haha. In the middle of watching it, one of the Relief Society sisters turned on the lights and informed everyone that it was snowing outside and the roads were getting pretty bad, so whoever needed to leave should go. I was like, what the heck. On Sunday morning I was walking through snow, then yesterday it got up to 70 degrees and was super nice! So weird.
I haven't heard from Shelby, but I think she's okay (this is Whitney's former roommate who is serving a mission in Ukraine). Haven't heard from Megan either (COUGH COUGH- WRITE ME!). And Janel, welcome to my e-mails!! I'm dying to get transferred to Dublin in the future, and if I do, you need to send me some referrals :)
One thing I continue to realize on my mission is how fortunate of circumstances I grew up in. I've been in some pretty slummy areas this week, particularly in Newark while on exchanges. I went to see a former investigator with Sister Burton (love her!), and this woman lived in a rotting house with two little girls, with cigarette butts and food smashed into the carpet, who-knows-what all over the walls, and it was just a sad sight in general. Also went through a lot of sketch apartments that reeked of smoke. And drove through a part of southern Zanesville with shack-like houses where there was definitely illegal activity going on. We've got it REALLY nice!!
Now, about some people from the week. I finally met Mallory, a member's granddaughter who would have been baptized long ago if it weren't for the mother, who is punishing Mallory by not letting her go to church (doesn't even make sense...). She's 16 and we connected really well, there's not a lot we can do for her right now but I'm praying she will have to opportunity to come to church soon. The Bausermans, a member family in our ward (and our ward mission leader), I can't remember if I've already mentioned them, but they're my all-time favorites. They serve all these home-grown, natural foods to us and they're just really down-to-earth people, who I've come to feel very close with. Also this week, we saw Mike again and Sister King gave him this inspired lesson on how he is just as accountable as he would be if he were already baptized, because he knows it's all true. He decided he needs to redouble his efforts and get super serious about getting baptized, and we've left him with the commitment to find his answer during General Conference. We are also starting member lessons with the family that Cayenne works for as the daughter's nurse. It would have happened sooner but there's been a lot going on with both ends of the situation that's postponed it.
The unique thing of the week is that we took a day-trip down to McConnelsville, a town that's 30-40 miles south of Zville that's in our ward boundaries. The members down there, the Griesmyers, took care of us for the day, and the oldest Sister Griesmyer went out with us to visit lots of less-actives (a lot of them were old and physically couldn't make it to church, but at the same time, it would be hard to stay active when you live so far away from church!). The Griesmyers' farm consists of the parents, two grown kids and their families, cows, chickens, sheep, and a donkey. And dogs and cats. When we first pulled up, we met one of the daughters, who was holding a lamb that was born just an hour earlier. The grandkids showed us around the paddocks outside where we got to see the cutest lambs (sorry I didn't get pictures!). That afternoon, we drove wayyyyy out into the boonies and visited some rather talkative people (and we were way out in the hills, the edges of the Appalachians actually). We also ate lunch at a store that's owned by some Menonites. So I've met the Amish and the Menonites now!
Preparation day was today because of transfers tomorrow. However, I'm staying for Sister King another six weeks. I've come to love the members here, and I've adjusted to Zanesville and am glad to stay here a little longer. There's a lot of work that can be done.
SO EXCITED for General Conference this weekend. It's amazing that we have living prophets to speak to us today, as the mouthpiece of the Lord. I ask everyone to write down questions or concerns in your life beforehand, and I promise that answers will come! I wrote down three concerns last time, and I got tons of personal revelation on those matters, and more! It felt like a personal conference just for me!
Fun picture of the week: At district meeting last week, our district leader brought two ducklings that he had purchased for a gift for a recent convert. I got to hold one!
Oh, and do you remember those mounds that are in Ohio, that are possibly from Book of Mormon people? They're not too far from me, just past Newark! There's actually a ward in our zone that's called Moundbuilders. Haha.
Letters and packages still appreciated :)
Love,
Sister Petersen
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