The Devil Snake

Dumela!!

Its so great to hear from everyone again! I am so glad everyone has had a good week! My week has been very good and very very busy!!

All week we having been preparing for this past weekend. We have been visiting our 3 investigators mama E, Bro B, and Bro C. We have really been trying to make sure they know everything they need to and that they are comfortable and ready to go. We have also been working really hard on preparing Sis M, Mama S, and Bro S for baptism on February 23. (We are trying to do one baptism service a month to make it easier so the date got changed) So we have been running back and forth between these individuals and then spending lots of time tracting! 

On Friday we had our Zone Conference. Phuthaditjhaba, Bethlehem, and Welkom all got combined to make a new Welkom Zone. So we had our first conference. President Z focused a lot on teaching the first lesson of the Restoration. We talked about how most missionaries when we teach, we teach up until the apostasy and then we stop. Come back for the second lesson, teach until the Book of Mormon and then stop. Come back and teach the third lesson on the BoM. We talked about why we do that and how effective it was. A lot of religions believe the same things as us up until the apostasy. They know God loves us, the gospel blesses families, God chose prophets, and that the prophets were killed. What they don't know is about the Restoration. They don't know about the gospel being lost and the priesthood being taken from the earth. We talked about the power behind teaching the First Vision and Joseph Smith's story. We practiced it a lot and I can see how we need to use that as the main focus in our teaching. Especially in the first encounter. People need to see that there is something different about our church and how it is the true church on the earth today. So conference was very cool and very powerful! An Elder Armstrong from SLC, this was his last so he shared his testimony. He talked a lot to us 'greenies' and said that he was passing us the baton and it was our turn to show our Heavenly Father that we are thankful for what He does for us and we want to show Him by serving our hardest for 2 years. I wish I could remember everything he said because the spirit was so strong and most of us started crying. 

Saturday we had the open house at the church building here in PJ. We were there from 10:30 in the morning until about 6:30 at night. Tons and tons of people came in! Someone had a guest book that they had everyone sign and now we have dozens of new investigators to contact! We are looking forward to meeting with these people this week. We had some older investigators that we had dropped that showed up and said they are ready now to learn. We had a bunch of people we had met on the street and just said hi to that said they wanted to come see where we happy people come from. We had members of the Roman Catholic church that is down the street come up and walk through and say to us that this was a true church and that they wanted to attend here. Really so many people showed such great interest in the Church. The members were fantastic for giving tours and being friendly! I was so worried that it would be a disaster but everything went so so well! We even had a number of people say they wanted to be baptized then and there!! The only down side to the whole day, while all the other missionaries were talking with people, me and Elder C (couple missionary) were trying to set up projectors and speakers to show videos. We spent hours trying to hook up 3 movies. Africans and old people do not know how to use technology. But overall it was very successful and very good for this branch! Hopefully it will help the branch grow in number but also help the members grow in experience! 

Sunday we had a combined Phuthaditjhaba and Bethlehem Branch Conference. The members and missionaries from Beth came here for church. They had the Branch Presidents speak. I really cant recall anything they said other than Pres. T saying, "Dont worship your gold! Money is bad!" It was interesting... But 125 people came so that was pretty cool to see the chapel filled with people! All the adults went into a combined Sunday School class that Elder A (Couple missionary in Bethlehem) talked. We had another investigator that was really ditching us bad attend that class and tell him that she was going to be baptized that night! It was a powerful lesson on the history of the church and the investigators loved it! Afterwards, all the adults set up chairs in the hallway by the front door (the building has no air conditioning and the worst ventilation) and President Z talked about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It was very powerful and kind of funny that everyone was just randomly sprawled around in the hall. 

After church we had the baptismal service for Mama E, Bro B, and Bro C. We planned some powerful speakers and it really was a strong program. We went in and they were all so nervous! Mama E went first and was baptized by Pres. T. She is deathly afraid of water and was shaking when she went in but when she came out of the water, I have never seen her smile so big! After Bro B was baptized by Elder M. He has been waiting for over a month to be baptized. He had been taught here in Phutha but had moved home to Swaziland right before being baptized. The branch there wouldnt let him get baptized for some reason so after a month he moved back here and was finally able to do it. Bro C was the last to be baptized and I was able to baptize him. Bro C has been someone special to me. He was the first investigator that I had started teaching when I got here and have been with him every step of the way. In December he had some problems and no matter what we did we couldn't find him or get a hold of him. I thought we had lost him. But on the first week of the new year he showed up to church and told us everything. He has had some major challenges in life and has seen some awful things but I have personally seen the Atonement of Jesus Christ change his life. Never have I seen anyone that loves this Gospel or the Book of Mormon more than he does. Every day he reads and every time we see him he has something to share with us. He truly loves the Gospel and loves the Lord. I will never forget that baptism. It was such a wonderful day.

So now its random funny scary story time! So Sunday night we went to Ntate M's house for FHE. We were just talking and we told him that we wanted to climb the huge mountain. He instantly told us not to and said we would die! We all looked at him weird and he told us about how on top of the mountain there is a satanic snake that when you climb that mountain, it hypnotizes you, lures you into a pool, and then sucks all of the blood out of your body! I guess it is like a devil or something that lives there and kills people like crazy! He told us that there is a fence there that was placed there before he was born. No one knows who built it but if you cross it, then you instantly get taken by that snake. He also told us that planes don't fly over this mountain because as soon as they cross that fence, the plane falls out of the sky. The snake somehow drags it down..? Mostly it scared me to death and now I never want to climb that mountain! Africa is a crazy crazy place! Anyway, that was my interesting story of the week!

This week has been so so powerful and so wonderful. The Spirit has been so strong and I have learned so much! These were the highlights of my week. Other than this, we have just been busy tracting and visiting some of the other investigators we have. We have been trying to get some more that are progressing nicely but we don't have many that are super potential. Hopefully next week I will have more things and some new investigators to tell you about! I am so thankful for this time I have to be here on mission. It really is the hardest most awful time, but when you see your hard work pay off, and you see 3 people change their lives, everything seems so great! This Gospel is true. This church is true. The Book of Mormon is the word of God and it does have the ability to change lives. I have never taken reading seriously but now that I am here and I have actually spent time to read and search the scriptures, every answer to every problem, can be found in the Book of Mormon. I love you all so much and I am so thankful for all the support I have been getting from everyone, every way from prayers to packages. It means so much! Until next week! Love Elder Peterson

Hiding in the Closet of GoGo's Haunted House

Dumela!!

Hello Hello everyone!

 Its been a crazy but fantastic week this last week! We got a lot done and had some interesting experiences... So this last week was transfers and Elder R left here and Elder A was coming here. He was suppose to come on Tuesday at about 1 pm. We were to pick him up in Harrismith which is about an hour drive from Phuthaditjhaba. Well we drove there, got a call, he missed his bus. So his next bus was suppose to come in at 2 am. We drove back to Harrismith again, he missed that bus. So we drove home. Wednesday at 3 pm was the bus. We drove there, got a call, bus went to Durban instead. So for 3 days, this kid was lost in the wilderness of South Africa! While he was lost, we had quite the fun time! One day we went to a huge Soccer Stadium and snuck onto the field. We ran around and took tons of crazy photos, hopefully they will be in the mail soon, and had a blast! Another day, we went and saw zebras, antelope, gazelles, kudu, gemsbok, buffalo, and some other animals I don't even know! We got lots of cool pics and Elder M tried chasing some buffalo and about got killed! Missionaries are way too stupid! 

Finally on Thursday Elder A came. The Zone Leaders brought him to the boarding. All the Elders wanted to see Go Go's house. This place is like a legend among the mission and everyone wants to see it. They stayed for a while and we all just talked and swapped stories for a while. I love talking to the other missionaries and hearing about the crazy things in SA! 

Well they left and the real work began! Elder A started cleaning the house so I joined in. We seriously vacuumed everything, scrubbed everywhere, and threw out some nasty stuff! We were in the process of going to clean the bathrooms and the water got shut off to half of QwaQwa! We had to stop and decided to go to the area (where they are teaching). The only problem, none of us had showered yet! Luckily I had those baby wipes left from the plane ride so I had a nice 'shower' while the other elders tried to bath using buckets of water they found somewhere. It was a good time! 

Saturday we had our interviews for the baptism. Mama E, Bro B (old investigator that just moved back to PJ), and Bro C are all getting baptized Sunday! We got everything prepared and now we are ready to go! 

Yesterday was a good day! We had church and all was great. After Elder A and Elder M went in to talk to president T. They were giving him 'loving fire' about what the branch needed to succeed. Somewhere during, President T stopped them and said, "Elders, I know that Jesus was born in Bethlehem." They just started laughing! What does that have to do with anything??? I thought it was hilarious! After church we were at our appointments. As we were leaving our last appointment it was raining hard! We started walking home and it came down harder. We were just laughing and going along like little kids. Elder M told me that every time you walk in the rain your wife gets more beautiful, I don't know if my wife can get much more beautiful ;) When we got home we had beaten the other Elders home. They were pulling up and I got the bright idea to hide in their closet. As they came in and went to start planning, I jumped out and scared both of them and Elder M who knew I was in there! 

Elder A seriously screamed like a little girl and about punched me in fear! I still haven't stopped laughing about that!

 Overall this week has been filled with some fun and exciting moments but the spirit has been here non stop. Preparing these investigators for baptism is something that can't be described. All of your hard work is paying off and that's great, but you can actually see as the gospel, and the atonement of Jesus Christ, has changed these peoples lives. Some have had some serious trials in life, but now, they seem as if nothing could be better and they are the most blessed people on earth. I know that this gospel is true and that it does change lives. This is the word and work of the Lord. I am so thankful for this opportunity that I have and for the support I get from all of you. I love you all so much! Have a good week and I can't wait to hear from you again!

Love Elder Peterson

This is a letter written to us by one of the other elders in the boarding, dated 30 Dec 2013

Hello,

Peterson family let me hope you guys are great and everything is moving on right. It was kindly cool moment and time to see you guys on Skype when Elder Peterson was Skyping. It was nice ever to hear from you people. I hope you guys are the best ever, to be honest your son Peterson he is going to be the best and great missionary ever. After he left the MTC he came straight to his fir area and I and my companion picked him up to a small city called Bethlehem. It was nice and pretty to see him.

I haven't been with Elder Peterson for a long time but I feel he is a principled gentle missionary. His decision to come on a mission I feel it is the best ever and he is a friend and a person who cares, and courageous. He is ever with high standards and he is sociable with every one, am really excited for him and also am happy to know him and also to be his friend ever and ever.

What he really desired most here in Africa is to have a chance to see lion. One P-day we drove to Lion Camp--it is like 15-30 min drive. He took nice pictures and we enjoyed together with him as we watch the lions, he was really excited to see them because it was, I think, his first time to see the lions, the huge ones and the little ones.

In this area where we are is called Phuthaditjhaba. You know South Africa 50% is full of whites but where we live there is kindly a little but don't worry he is having fun and also enjoying his mission. I personally love him, he always tells me about his family. He feels that you guys are the best ever and he really loves you guys but he is doing great. He is a powerful missionary and strong in everything.

One of the most great things I have learnt from him is to be humble, meek and lowliness. He loves to be kind and he is teachable. I had explored (discovered?) this from him you know he likes studying, working, increase in his confidence and also to develop more spiritually. What I have explored from him is to love and to show respect and also having good communications, conduct. What can I say I love him and he also does because of his deeds and characters and caring he shows to me.

Am happy to write you this letter. He told me that if you guy write a letter to my parents I know they will be happy of you, and I also decided to do it as the holy Spirit guides. Am so excited to do and and I will always do it and maybe one day after my mission  may visit you to states basically in Utah to see you guys and to also speak to one another! I hope it will happen.

May the Lord bless you guys in what ever capacity you are in. I love you guys very much. Say it out from the bottom of my heart.     From Elder K

Happy New Year or Beans, My Old Enemy or White Man Hunting Season

Hello everyone!

I hope everyone had a happy New Year! Im sure you had some fantastic New Year parties and celebrations! and enjoyed some wonderful FOOD! Ill be reading all about it today im sure. As for my week, its been interesting to say the least!

On Tuesday we had our DDM (District Meeting) as usual. It was nice and fine but we didn't get done until past 2. By the time we got everything ready and got the other Elders to their area it was past 3. We had 2 hours to see all of our people before the parties started! Somehow we managed to see everyone and started heading home when all the people started coming out. At the boarding we decided to just relax and tell stories. We decided that we were going to be crazy and stay up until 12 but by the crazy apostate time of 10:54 we were all finished! 6:30 am is a good time to see the New Year!

Wednesday. Happy New Year! Basically on New Year everyone gets wasted! Not American wasted, but African wasted!  We tried going out but ended up just giving pamphlets to drunks so they wouldn't beat us! We came back to the boarding and just slept, played games, and swapped stories. Mama M. had us over for a nice lunch. In south Africa they eat beans like crazy! The worst part is they take a can of beans, mix it in mayo and serve it cold! I hate my life... But really i wouldn't even be mad if we had more days like this... 

Thursday was a bad day at the Phuthaditjhaba boarding. The ceiling started leaking water like crazy. We got President T. to come look and the water pipes were just pouring water into the ceiling. After 3 hours and about 15 trips to the store, he finally fixed it. He is a plumber by the way. Our oven also broke so the mission office sent us a new one. It didn't work either. Pres T. tried fixing it but just left! so we couldn't cook anything. KFC here we come! I did send a nice package home today that has lots of letters and pictures for everyone!

Friday was another interesting day. We did our weekly planning while Pres T. fixed our oven. After we went house shopping. We got told about a super nice house we needed to see. We showed up to the scariest neighborhood in the middle of nowhere. The house was more of a shack and it had no bathroom. We just laughed and walked away. When we came home I decided to make chicken stir fry. Little did i know the new stove gets hot!! Well the oil caught fire and made quite the show! The others wanted to throw water on it but i knew not to luckily! GoGo's house would be burned down!

Saturday was quite the day as well. We started off by painting N. M.'s house. We were there for probably 3 hours. But he did make us some breakfast. We were eating our eggs and bread when i reached for some milk. I tipped it up to my mouth and knew something was wrong. As it slid down the glass into my mouth it had the consistency of yogurt! It was some nasty bad milk! But i guess it is a delicacy cause N wanted me to drink more! It was a bad deal.. After we went to Branch family home evening. Only 9 people came but we had a nice discussion on the book of mormon. After, Daddy G asked us about a scripture he found saying we shouldn't eat wheat...? I just laughed and walked out. He is the oldest craziest man on Earth! I walked outside and there was a huge mob with spears walking towards me. I about cried and ran inside! All of the "men" were coming back from the mountain and were celebrating. I thought I was going to be killed! Luckily white man season isn't until next month! ;) 

Sunday was a very good day! Bro C came back to church! We have been praying for him every day since we lost him. He came right in to sacrament and went to every class! We even got to go see him after church and he was telling us that he needed to change. He had been having so many trials and problems and now he knew he needed the church. He shared scripture after scripture with us and was so ready to move on with his life. We talked to him and set a date for 26 January to be baptized. We are going to help him as much as we can! Prayer really is the most powerful thing. I never understood prayer or why i was really doing it until mission. Prayers really are answered. 

This new year i have been looking at everything in my life and have been trying to see what i can do to be not only a better missionary, but a better Camden. Ive been reading Alma 24: 17-19 a lot lately. Its time for me to bury my weapons of rebellion and to give in to God's will for me. There are a lot of things i need to do to help me on my mission as well as prepare me for my future. I love you all so very much and i am so thankful for all the support i have gotten from you! I pray for you every day and i know you pray for me. I can feel those prayers when i am struggling. Enjoy the New Year and I will talk to you again next week!

 Love Elder Peterson

A bit from his email to his Dad

Dear Dad

Im hoping my big email answers some of (your) questions. We are getting more investigators each week and we are planning on a huge baptism on January 26. This new year I read Alma 24 about the Anti-Nephi-Lehis and really decided to look at myself. It was funny because the talk you sent me made me think more about this. I need to personally make these changes for the better. If i become more of a disciple of Christ as a missionary and as Camden, a lot of my problems can be fixed. I have been in the habit of thinking everything i do is right and everyone else is wrong. I have been feeling that i know the church because i have grown up in it and so all these problems are just because of the pres or members. But they are sacrificing and doing all they can to help this church. I need to do the same.... I would just love any scriptures or talks that anyone in the family comes across and wants to share. I mark them so i know they come from the family and i would love more! But the packages of food are always a nice thing too. ;)  

I dont have much more to share this week. I've been doing better and feeling better about mission but it is still rough. I still have all the doubts and everything but i am fighting through it. I love you dad and can't wait to hear from you again!

Love Elder P