I emailed people last week. Not much, but yeah, I emailed. I think I emailed Grant. Or maybe not.
I also wrote dad a story this week about an inactive here who wasn´t wearing pants when he came out to talk to us. Awkward.
First off, I also have used that letherman many times and the little bag of preparedness stuff. Thanks Dad.
Second, Canute, your lip looks gross. I´m glad you attached a picture so we could see just how gross it really is.
Third, this week we knocked at a 70 yr old inactive´s house. His named Eduardo. He came outside to open his gate in his underwear and a tshirt. He also drinks pretty heavily. Anyways, it was like 6 pm and he said, ¨Come on in hnas¨. And I said, ¨Where are your pants?¨ And he looked down and said, ¨They´re there.¨ And I said, ¨Nope, they´re not¨. So he opened the gate, told us to come in and walked inside to put his pants on. We scheduled an appointment for later in the week and earlier in the day. That is one of the many reasons you should never drink alcohol.
My comp Hna Gonzalez has also discovered I startle really easy. So she startles me about 30 times a day. It was old the first time..but she does it a lot. If it helps her stay happy, I guess it´s ok, but it´s really obnoxious. If I were at home, I would punch her. But she has very tender skin...b-c sometimes I pat her back and she says ow. So...I just think about punching her. Also, she likes to pick long grass and hassle me. The Lord loves us. I know he´s teaching me patience. Besides those two things, we get along really well.
It´s Christian´s birthday tomorrow. Happy Birthday Christian!
We have changes this week. Maybe. I don´t know if I have a change, but changes are happening. If I change, that´s cool, but if not, that´s cool too. We have 6 baptismal dates. With faith, they will all be baptized. More faith.
It´s getting colder and rainier here. Not cold, just colder. Christian´s bday is tomorrow. Happy Birthday Christian! Ah, yeah, I wrote like 3 emails to Christian last week. Oops, I guess he didn´t share them huh? Well, ask him to send it to you.
Sorry scouts is hard. I get lost driving places all the time. That´s why it´s probably better we have to walk everywhere here. Love, Hna Peterson
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Sept 20, 2010..6 months or bust
Chocolate is always delicious, with carmel and other stuff like nuget inside. If you buy me candy, please look to see if there are peanuts or are made in a peanut factory..b-c I can´t eat them if they are. So that, and any really cute shirts b-c I´m super sick of my clothes, but also don´t like clothes shopping.
This week was good. It was really hot half the time, and the other half the time it rained. We knocked doors all yesterday and found about two people to teach. We also had an investigator named Jorge go to church. Yes! It is unbelievably hard to get people to church. We also attended a baptism, which Jorge said he´d come to and didn´t. Oh well, there´s always next time. He also smokes like a chimney, but we´re working with him.
America, if you would like to Print out that smoking program for me and send it that would be great. I really don´t have time to read that long stuff here and I don´t know how many pages it is...maybe a lot. Anyway, I bought different foods at the store today, b-c the food I´ve been eating I´m sick of. And we don´t ever look at the fruit or veggies these days. Oops.
This week I found out the chubby kid who was running around saying he itched is named Javier. Hah. Also, I dropped a drop of bleach on my black sock and it has an orange spot now. Oops. The church is true. Love you! Hna Peterson
Grant,
Date: Mon, 20 Sep 2010 16:21:33 -0600
I´m glad you´re having a fun and active time at BYU. There are always good times to be had there. I had a class in the special collections place. It was called ancient and medieval manuscripts and I fell asleep in it every day. I also got my first college c. Oops. One every semester, thank you very much. I would have lost any scholarships stat. So it´s good I never got any, b-c mom wouldn´t have ever let me forget it.
I´m glad you have plenty of girls to run after..7 is about right. I always had a number to dream about.. of boys, not girls, at college. I had a dream the other night about this guy I liked my entire college existence named Brian Swindlehurst. It was depressing, b-c he never liked me back. But I´m over him..I thought, until I had that dream. But yeah, why would I want to date someone who wasn´t interested in me? Stupid.
Thanks for buying that new coolant cap. If that fixed the problem, you are amazing, b-c I´ve lost a lot of money on that stupid problem. I´m glad you´ve got the activity part of college down. Some people never do. I have been on a mission for 6 months in four days. What am I going to do when I get home? The same thing I do every night, try to take over the world.
The church is true. Sometimes I feel frustrated. With Spanish, with myself, with my comp. But that´s the missionary life. You´re the best. Thanks for your prayers. I need them. Love you! Hna Peterson
This week was good. It was really hot half the time, and the other half the time it rained. We knocked doors all yesterday and found about two people to teach. We also had an investigator named Jorge go to church. Yes! It is unbelievably hard to get people to church. We also attended a baptism, which Jorge said he´d come to and didn´t. Oh well, there´s always next time. He also smokes like a chimney, but we´re working with him.
America, if you would like to Print out that smoking program for me and send it that would be great. I really don´t have time to read that long stuff here and I don´t know how many pages it is...maybe a lot. Anyway, I bought different foods at the store today, b-c the food I´ve been eating I´m sick of. And we don´t ever look at the fruit or veggies these days. Oops.
This week I found out the chubby kid who was running around saying he itched is named Javier. Hah. Also, I dropped a drop of bleach on my black sock and it has an orange spot now. Oops. The church is true. Love you! Hna Peterson
Grant,
Date: Mon, 20 Sep 2010 16:21:33 -0600
I´m glad you´re having a fun and active time at BYU. There are always good times to be had there. I had a class in the special collections place. It was called ancient and medieval manuscripts and I fell asleep in it every day. I also got my first college c. Oops. One every semester, thank you very much. I would have lost any scholarships stat. So it´s good I never got any, b-c mom wouldn´t have ever let me forget it.
I´m glad you have plenty of girls to run after..7 is about right. I always had a number to dream about.. of boys, not girls, at college. I had a dream the other night about this guy I liked my entire college existence named Brian Swindlehurst. It was depressing, b-c he never liked me back. But I´m over him..I thought, until I had that dream. But yeah, why would I want to date someone who wasn´t interested in me? Stupid.
Thanks for buying that new coolant cap. If that fixed the problem, you are amazing, b-c I´ve lost a lot of money on that stupid problem. I´m glad you´ve got the activity part of college down. Some people never do. I have been on a mission for 6 months in four days. What am I going to do when I get home? The same thing I do every night, try to take over the world.
The church is true. Sometimes I feel frustrated. With Spanish, with myself, with my comp. But that´s the missionary life. You´re the best. Thanks for your prayers. I need them. Love you! Hna Peterson
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Sept 14, 2010
Love you too kristi b. The shift on this keyboard is iffy. So I´m not going to worry about it. This week after church there was a..10 yr old maybe..with his arms in his shirt. the chest part. so he was yelling ¨mi pica, mi pica¨. And running in circles like a crazy. So this guy in the ward itched his back for him and he was like, ¨no, my head. my head.¨It was really funny. Chubby kid. funnier.
Second, this week our refridgerator box got wet. It´s a mini fridge and we use the box as a sort of counter. anyway, we put it outside to dry and about ten minutes later it started walking away. Not kidding. So my comp, Hna gonzalez went outside and watched it walk away. She waved me over to do something.
So I picked up the box and two six year olds were underneath. I told them I was sorry, but it was our table. The asked us to give it to them.. I said maybe in a month. We´re going to be using it in a month, but I felt bad just saying no. It was hilarious.
those are my two stories for this week. also, i´m really sorry you aren´t having much luck with the branch. If I was there right now, I´d take 10 of them for you. I know, dating is a dumb reason to attend church. And who knows who´s going to move in or have fun activities. Anyway, that´s lame.
Sorry you had trouble sleeping baby cakes. I wake up a lot because my comp throws stuffed animals at me in the middle of the night when I snore. She says I snore louder when I shower at night. So I´m not allowed to shower at night.
We get along really well though. I was nervous to just be with her b-c we had a trio before, but we have lots of fun.
Speaking of fun. I got your package today! i haven´t opened it yet, but I read the contents listing and am really excited for the prizes inside. I can´t wait to eat the kitkats and use the stationary. We have toothpaste and floss here, but thanks a million jillion for sending it! i know you know that´s important to me. Thank you!!!
I cannot believe I´ve been out almost 6 months. crazy.. six months the 24th of sept. Don´t watch anymore dinosaur movies before bed. My dreams are usually pretty vivid too. and I get chased a lot. I had an ork dream about a month ago and I was chopping at his neck but my machete wasn´t sharp so nothing was happening. scary.
You´re the best. Good luck with your job. have you seen kimberly´s baby yet? i saw a alison in wonderland advertisement at the grocery store today and thought of our good times that last week. love you so much! strengh and love! love, Hna Peterson
Second, this week our refridgerator box got wet. It´s a mini fridge and we use the box as a sort of counter. anyway, we put it outside to dry and about ten minutes later it started walking away. Not kidding. So my comp, Hna gonzalez went outside and watched it walk away. She waved me over to do something.
So I picked up the box and two six year olds were underneath. I told them I was sorry, but it was our table. The asked us to give it to them.. I said maybe in a month. We´re going to be using it in a month, but I felt bad just saying no. It was hilarious.
those are my two stories for this week. also, i´m really sorry you aren´t having much luck with the branch. If I was there right now, I´d take 10 of them for you. I know, dating is a dumb reason to attend church. And who knows who´s going to move in or have fun activities. Anyway, that´s lame.
Sorry you had trouble sleeping baby cakes. I wake up a lot because my comp throws stuffed animals at me in the middle of the night when I snore. She says I snore louder when I shower at night. So I´m not allowed to shower at night.
We get along really well though. I was nervous to just be with her b-c we had a trio before, but we have lots of fun.
Speaking of fun. I got your package today! i haven´t opened it yet, but I read the contents listing and am really excited for the prizes inside. I can´t wait to eat the kitkats and use the stationary. We have toothpaste and floss here, but thanks a million jillion for sending it! i know you know that´s important to me. Thank you!!!
I cannot believe I´ve been out almost 6 months. crazy.. six months the 24th of sept. Don´t watch anymore dinosaur movies before bed. My dreams are usually pretty vivid too. and I get chased a lot. I had an ork dream about a month ago and I was chopping at his neck but my machete wasn´t sharp so nothing was happening. scary.
You´re the best. Good luck with your job. have you seen kimberly´s baby yet? i saw a alison in wonderland advertisement at the grocery store today and thought of our good times that last week. love you so much! strengh and love! love, Hna Peterson
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Sept 7, 2010
Dad: We keep hearing about buses getting buried in mud and other unexpected events happening in Guatemala.
Merilee: I haven´t read the news b-c it´s against the rules. I´m in Guat. City right now, so we´re pretty safe here from natural disasters and we rarely ride the bus.
Family, I´m glad you invited Sister Beck over for Labor Day. Keep on, b-c she´s probably really lonely these days. I´m also glad you´re enjoying the garden and it´s fruits...vegetables. Sounds like you´re pounding out the good stuff. Keep at it.
We´ve started having problems with dogs in some of our areas, but I now have a spray bottle with alcohol. So any other dogs are getting it in the eyes. That´s a promise. I heard it doesn´t affect their sight, it just burns. Hah.
BbQ sounds nice. We haven´t really had any of those out here yet. I bought some cool wooden masks today. Good luck with your job interview.
I also got another haircut last week. A lady we were teaching saw our hair in ponytails and asked to see it. She fixed my last haircut which was about 3 weeks ago. My hair is getting shorter and I have bangs. I´ve had 4 haircuts in 5 months. Not as hard as I thought it would be. We also visited a museum today which is why my emails are today and not yesterday. It wasn´t open Monday, our pday. I looked at some pictures of me before my mission and my face is definitely fatter.
I realized last week I didn´t put any news in my letters. Oops. I´ll try and be better about that. I got a package from Sarah this week with a cd with music and a pudding. Shout out thanks Sarah!!!!
Also, I got a wedding announcement, a baby announcement, and 4 letters. Very cool week. Especially since I haven´t received mail for about 2 months. Emails are great and so is mail. Anyway, this week was good. We´ve had lots of lessons and investigators. We´re trying hard to help them along in the gospel, but we´ve got a lot of slow investigators' better than nothing I say. Most of them have appointments with us every 15 days or so. You´re supposed to see them more than once a week.
So that´s hard to keep them all progressing. The ward is being more helpful. Hna Calderon left, and now the bishop is really open to helping us with the work. Apparently it was semi' hard to work with her. So that´s good to know.
It´s been raining almost every day now. We have chilly nights and mornings, but the weather´s pretty awesome overall. Thanks for the love. We eat lots of soup and pancakes. And bread. There´s a bread store in our little village so we get it there when it´s fresh. My face is getting fatter.
Also, every time my comp sees a plane she says, Adios Papa. I don´t know if I said this already, but I think it´s funny and sad...so I thought I´d share it again. It´s a habit the kids have b-c a lot of their dad´s leave their families to start other families. I know, right.รง
The works going. We visited a museum today, which wasn´t open Monday, so we changed our pday this week. Maybe the week´ll fly faster this way.
Also, I´m learning lots of humility these days. My comp´s helping me with verbs and I feel stupid and frustrated sometimes. But most of the time, I feel a´ ok. Also, one day I cried for about an hour out of frustration for our slow investigators. But it´s been a while, so I needed a good cry. Love and kisses! Hna Peterson
Merilee: I haven´t read the news b-c it´s against the rules. I´m in Guat. City right now, so we´re pretty safe here from natural disasters and we rarely ride the bus.
Family, I´m glad you invited Sister Beck over for Labor Day. Keep on, b-c she´s probably really lonely these days. I´m also glad you´re enjoying the garden and it´s fruits...vegetables. Sounds like you´re pounding out the good stuff. Keep at it.
We´ve started having problems with dogs in some of our areas, but I now have a spray bottle with alcohol. So any other dogs are getting it in the eyes. That´s a promise. I heard it doesn´t affect their sight, it just burns. Hah.
BbQ sounds nice. We haven´t really had any of those out here yet. I bought some cool wooden masks today. Good luck with your job interview.
I also got another haircut last week. A lady we were teaching saw our hair in ponytails and asked to see it. She fixed my last haircut which was about 3 weeks ago. My hair is getting shorter and I have bangs. I´ve had 4 haircuts in 5 months. Not as hard as I thought it would be. We also visited a museum today which is why my emails are today and not yesterday. It wasn´t open Monday, our pday. I looked at some pictures of me before my mission and my face is definitely fatter.
I realized last week I didn´t put any news in my letters. Oops. I´ll try and be better about that. I got a package from Sarah this week with a cd with music and a pudding. Shout out thanks Sarah!!!!
Also, I got a wedding announcement, a baby announcement, and 4 letters. Very cool week. Especially since I haven´t received mail for about 2 months. Emails are great and so is mail. Anyway, this week was good. We´ve had lots of lessons and investigators. We´re trying hard to help them along in the gospel, but we´ve got a lot of slow investigators' better than nothing I say. Most of them have appointments with us every 15 days or so. You´re supposed to see them more than once a week.
So that´s hard to keep them all progressing. The ward is being more helpful. Hna Calderon left, and now the bishop is really open to helping us with the work. Apparently it was semi' hard to work with her. So that´s good to know.
It´s been raining almost every day now. We have chilly nights and mornings, but the weather´s pretty awesome overall. Thanks for the love. We eat lots of soup and pancakes. And bread. There´s a bread store in our little village so we get it there when it´s fresh. My face is getting fatter.
Also, every time my comp sees a plane she says, Adios Papa. I don´t know if I said this already, but I think it´s funny and sad...so I thought I´d share it again. It´s a habit the kids have b-c a lot of their dad´s leave their families to start other families. I know, right.รง
The works going. We visited a museum today, which wasn´t open Monday, so we changed our pday this week. Maybe the week´ll fly faster this way.
Also, I´m learning lots of humility these days. My comp´s helping me with verbs and I feel stupid and frustrated sometimes. But most of the time, I feel a´ ok. Also, one day I cried for about an hour out of frustration for our slow investigators. But it´s been a while, so I needed a good cry. Love and kisses! Hna Peterson
Monday, September 6, 2010
August 30, 2010
Grant
First off, maybe mom´ll put all the pictures, or some on my blog and you can see them then. Also, sounds like you had some good times in MO. I´m jealous. I drove to MO from Provo by myself when I came home before Europe. What a boring drive. Mostly I talked on the phone with a million people..I was also pretty tired and almost took a couple naps but didn´t. On the last two hour leg I remember doing laps around the car at a gas station b-c I was really close and didn´t want to sleep on the side of the road. It was snowy and the roads were really crappy. And I imagined the license plates were changing in front of my eyes. Weird and probably a sign I was really tired.
Sorry you didn´t see Cortney. But what in the world were you doing hanging out at BYU with girls until 130. Doesn´t the honor code say 12? Or is it 130 during weekends? I don´t remember. Could be. I´m glad you like your roomies. It´s so much greater to be pals with people and remeet instead of the scariness of rooming with strangers. It´s so different from a mission. I sometimes wish I could walk my speed, not look like a man every day, and not have to be always with my comp.
If you get along with your roomies...that´s good. I always did. I know America had a lot of problems with roomies. And I hope you cultivate some fantastic relationships with males I might like to meet when I come home. And have FHE activities where everyone writes your sister on her mission in Guatemala. Remember, I´m really cool.
Sorry you didn´t make much money in Alaska. I got a check from the Olympics this month. Now I´ve got about 2000 in my account and 7000 in the other one. And Grandma, bless her wonderful self, contributed 1000 to my fund before she died. Dad suggested I donate it to a missionary in our ward who can´t pay for his mission. I said that would be ok. It´s money I wasn´t expecting anyway and he needs it more than I do.
I have gained 10 pounds on my mission. That´s..2 pounds a month. That´s not too bad.A member we read the BOM with made us a cake. We bought all the stuff and she made it. It was a chocolate custard cake and really easy to make... And tasty. Yes! I love cake.
Plus Grandma and the Lord would be pleased to hear it. The church is true. What should I do with my life when I get home in a year? Thanks for the news! Love, Your favorite sister,(editor's note, she writes that to all her siblings..) Hna Peterson
America,
Sorry you are stressed out with your kids. I don´t have kids. Sometimes I read your emails and am grateful. Most of the Guatemalans I meet are nice. Everyone is having a bad day.
I´m glad you are good at remaking food. We eat lots of spaghetti with vegetables here in Los Olivos. I´ve started buying more bread at the bread store. Fresh bread every day..and tamales. That´s living.
It rains a lot here. Like every day. Nope, not like every day, every day. Also, my laundry is wet...b-c it rained today and I left it outside while we went shopping for food and played pool with the elders. Oops.
I think life in every place is hard. So there it is, life is hard. Endurance. You can do it. Maybe think about calling your sisters. You can´t call me, but Sarah, Bonnie, Cookie, Emily, Mom, Caryn, Danielle...there are lots of people to call. Love, Hna Peterson
First off, maybe mom´ll put all the pictures, or some on my blog and you can see them then. Also, sounds like you had some good times in MO. I´m jealous. I drove to MO from Provo by myself when I came home before Europe. What a boring drive. Mostly I talked on the phone with a million people..I was also pretty tired and almost took a couple naps but didn´t. On the last two hour leg I remember doing laps around the car at a gas station b-c I was really close and didn´t want to sleep on the side of the road. It was snowy and the roads were really crappy. And I imagined the license plates were changing in front of my eyes. Weird and probably a sign I was really tired.
Sorry you didn´t see Cortney. But what in the world were you doing hanging out at BYU with girls until 130. Doesn´t the honor code say 12? Or is it 130 during weekends? I don´t remember. Could be. I´m glad you like your roomies. It´s so much greater to be pals with people and remeet instead of the scariness of rooming with strangers. It´s so different from a mission. I sometimes wish I could walk my speed, not look like a man every day, and not have to be always with my comp.
If you get along with your roomies...that´s good. I always did. I know America had a lot of problems with roomies. And I hope you cultivate some fantastic relationships with males I might like to meet when I come home. And have FHE activities where everyone writes your sister on her mission in Guatemala. Remember, I´m really cool.
Sorry you didn´t make much money in Alaska. I got a check from the Olympics this month. Now I´ve got about 2000 in my account and 7000 in the other one. And Grandma, bless her wonderful self, contributed 1000 to my fund before she died. Dad suggested I donate it to a missionary in our ward who can´t pay for his mission. I said that would be ok. It´s money I wasn´t expecting anyway and he needs it more than I do.
I have gained 10 pounds on my mission. That´s..2 pounds a month. That´s not too bad.A member we read the BOM with made us a cake. We bought all the stuff and she made it. It was a chocolate custard cake and really easy to make... And tasty. Yes! I love cake.
Plus Grandma and the Lord would be pleased to hear it. The church is true. What should I do with my life when I get home in a year? Thanks for the news! Love, Your favorite sister,(editor's note, she writes that to all her siblings..) Hna Peterson
America,
Sorry you are stressed out with your kids. I don´t have kids. Sometimes I read your emails and am grateful. Most of the Guatemalans I meet are nice. Everyone is having a bad day.
I´m glad you are good at remaking food. We eat lots of spaghetti with vegetables here in Los Olivos. I´ve started buying more bread at the bread store. Fresh bread every day..and tamales. That´s living.
It rains a lot here. Like every day. Nope, not like every day, every day. Also, my laundry is wet...b-c it rained today and I left it outside while we went shopping for food and played pool with the elders. Oops.
I think life in every place is hard. So there it is, life is hard. Endurance. You can do it. Maybe think about calling your sisters. You can´t call me, but Sarah, Bonnie, Cookie, Emily, Mom, Caryn, Danielle...there are lots of people to call. Love, Hna Peterson
Sunday, August 29, 2010
August 22, 2010
Grant, Cool the guy offered you a job. That´s something to remember when you return next year even though you don´t want to. Don´t feel bad, it happens a lot. Or you can work in Juneau. The second year´s a little better. Sorry about your bad luck with people coming over for pizza.
I´m sad I couldn´t be in Alaska with you. We could´ve had a rocking summer, the two of us, eating pizza and bonding and we could´ve netted normal people to hang out with together. Hah, what a joke, normal people in Alaska.
The great thing, is now you can return to Utah and be content to be popular again. Yay!!!!!! I sent your letter to our parents with my zip full of pictures and a letter titled Happy Birthday Dad and Happy Birthday Grant. I don´t know if you´ll get it anytime soon, but know I sent it last week so it should be journeying toward you as I type.
We knock doors every day. Plus, we stand about 15 feet from the door, b-c that´s where the bell is, everyone has little entrances. It´s pretty funny at first, but I´m used to it now. But yeah, if we didn´t knock doors, we´d never meet anyone. That´s how we contact here. Love you! Miss you! Good luck buying books! Love, Hna Peterson
Ps. How crappy is it to be allergic to peanuts? Really crappy.
Editor's note: This is Grant's letter to Merilee about knocking doors on your mission:
Canute mentioned that knocking doors is useless- I disagree. It has it's uses, but mostly when prompted by the Spirit. One of my best experiences was looking around for somewhere to proselyte, and being prompted to knock doors on a certain street. My companion was less than enthused, so I was ringing the buildings. On the third or fourth building, the very top room opened up the door. Quick note: In Europe they have what we call 'quem e' boxes, which means the doorbells for all of the apartments is at the bottom of the stairs behind a security door. When someone opens the security door, you can go in and actually talk to them at their door, or start knocking the remainder of the doors in the building. Sometimes, no one opens the security door, and you just have to try and talk to people through the little speaker(hence the 'quem e? Quem e? when they want to know who's at the door...). Anyways, we hadn't had much luck and in this building, the very first bell I rang opened up the door. I was kind of ticked, because it was the top floor of a building without an elevator, and sometimes people will just open up the door, look at you, and shut it. It was a long walk up stairs. But after a moment, I realized that it was a blessing to be let in either way so that I could actually knock and interact instead of just talking through a speaker. I thanked Heavenly Father silently for the chance to be let in, and we made our way to the top of the stairs. Behind the door was Jose Antonio. He invited us right in. He was an elect. He started living the word of wisdom before we even asked him, 'cause he 'felt it was what he needed to do'. He was one of the only men in the ward to help us move in a particular family that weekend, and he wasn't even a member. He took off work to help us move them in. He was later baptized, as well as his wife and one of his sons. He actually wasn't baptized until after I left for the Azores, but when I came back from the Azores one of my first stops was through that area. I saw his wife, and she told me the news about them being members. His wife hadn't been hardly interested at all when we stopped by, but now she had a glow to her face, and she recognized me even after being gone for 6 months. It was one of the best days of my life.
Sooooo... Long story short, I have a testimony of good ol' knockin doors, even though references are certainly the Lord's most effective way to proselyte. But yea. Have fun in Guacamole!
.........................
Oo. Seminary. I think Nutella should be ok. Anyway, I´m glad you´re doing well and have tons of new things to do.
My scripture I put on the envelope of my letter I sent last week. You should get it in about a week, but it doesn´t really matter what scripture it is, right? B-c the scriptures are full of truths. So yeah, my preferred scripture is Alma...I can´t remember right now, but yeah, maybe Alma 28 about how if all men were like Moroni, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men.
I think basketball shorts would also be nice in a package sometime. I didn´t bring any shorts and I exercise in pajama pants, which is kind of a pain, but doable. Yeah, hopefully my peanut allergy will go away. I hope. Love and kisses! Hna Peterson
.............................................
I don´t know if I can get my peanut allergy fixed, but I´d be willing to make a go of it if there were some chance. I have learned here 1. everything is better with peanut butter. 2. Breathing is more important than peanut butter.
But it´s hard sometimes, b-c I love peanut things and I never realized how much until just now. I know right, sweet to be still getting paid. Mom said I just got paid $700 this week. How rockin´ awesome is that? Working for the Lord and getting paid meanwhile.
Also, I realized again while telling my comp about my missionary paperwork adventure how much the Lord blessed me before my mission. I had work in Alaska, right after in MO with Fedex, and right after with Vancouver and the Olympics. The Lord watches out for us that is for definite sure!
Everyone is always ready to leave Alaska. Every year, every person. I´m glad Marcia loves me and remembers me. I try to make a great impression on people. It helps with tips, it helps your future, and it makes for a great life of friendly memories with friendly people.
I hope the zip makes it there for you to view it. I´d hate for you to miss it if you can´t wait to see it. Two weeks right? Yeah, it should be there while you´re there. I hope.
I´m glad your last week in Alaska blew by, you´re going home, maybe to see Courtney, is she still dating that youngun´? And a fake tour video with you as the star, how cool is that?
I remember praying not to wreck...at the end of every month actually, but yes, especially at the end of the summer. Amazing how your confidence picks up every year though. And maybe we could drive buses together in England for the Olympics there. How cool would that be? No, en serio.
Hauling stuff on flights in a backpack is...crappy and I´ve done it. Bonnie wants to travel Europe. You two should go together. Or the three of us. Yes! Yes for options. Isn´t it nice to have money? Did you make as much money as you hoped this summer? I didn´t my first summer, and you only had one job in Alaska, but 8000 is way more than you´d get in UT. That´s all I made my first summer. The second summer I made about $12000. What a blessing it is to have two jobs in Alaska, and way more fun, because you don´t have that many friends, but hey, you´re rich...Or richer, than other people...
Love to hang out. Have fun in MO without me. Happy Birthday son!!!! Love, Hna Peterson
...........................
Hah, one time Cookie thumbed a ride with one of her friend´s moms and I wouldn´t get in the car b-c she was a stranger, but finally Cookie made me..so we wouldn´t have to walk. Also, I´m sorry you´re having trouble getting Megan adjusted to school. I don´t remember that, but that´s probably because I was so young. Hah.
I´m with Megan and Dad. Chocolate cake and rubarb pie sounds supreme. Supreme. Sorry I picked a crappy paying major. If it helps, I still don´t know what I want to do with my life. Maybe in a year. Pray for me to figure it out.
Prayers are always nice to get right? Tell Megan Auntie Merilee loves her too.
Also, I´m doing great here in Los Olivos with Hna Gonzalez, another time around. What a blessing. Thanks for all the news. I read a twix wrapper which said they may contain particles of nut. What a crock. Love, Hna Peterson
I´m sad I couldn´t be in Alaska with you. We could´ve had a rocking summer, the two of us, eating pizza and bonding and we could´ve netted normal people to hang out with together. Hah, what a joke, normal people in Alaska.
The great thing, is now you can return to Utah and be content to be popular again. Yay!!!!!! I sent your letter to our parents with my zip full of pictures and a letter titled Happy Birthday Dad and Happy Birthday Grant. I don´t know if you´ll get it anytime soon, but know I sent it last week so it should be journeying toward you as I type.
We knock doors every day. Plus, we stand about 15 feet from the door, b-c that´s where the bell is, everyone has little entrances. It´s pretty funny at first, but I´m used to it now. But yeah, if we didn´t knock doors, we´d never meet anyone. That´s how we contact here. Love you! Miss you! Good luck buying books! Love, Hna Peterson
Ps. How crappy is it to be allergic to peanuts? Really crappy.
Editor's note: This is Grant's letter to Merilee about knocking doors on your mission:
Canute mentioned that knocking doors is useless- I disagree. It has it's uses, but mostly when prompted by the Spirit. One of my best experiences was looking around for somewhere to proselyte, and being prompted to knock doors on a certain street. My companion was less than enthused, so I was ringing the buildings. On the third or fourth building, the very top room opened up the door. Quick note: In Europe they have what we call 'quem e' boxes, which means the doorbells for all of the apartments is at the bottom of the stairs behind a security door. When someone opens the security door, you can go in and actually talk to them at their door, or start knocking the remainder of the doors in the building. Sometimes, no one opens the security door, and you just have to try and talk to people through the little speaker(hence the 'quem e? Quem e? when they want to know who's at the door...). Anyways, we hadn't had much luck and in this building, the very first bell I rang opened up the door. I was kind of ticked, because it was the top floor of a building without an elevator, and sometimes people will just open up the door, look at you, and shut it. It was a long walk up stairs. But after a moment, I realized that it was a blessing to be let in either way so that I could actually knock and interact instead of just talking through a speaker. I thanked Heavenly Father silently for the chance to be let in, and we made our way to the top of the stairs. Behind the door was Jose Antonio. He invited us right in. He was an elect. He started living the word of wisdom before we even asked him, 'cause he 'felt it was what he needed to do'. He was one of the only men in the ward to help us move in a particular family that weekend, and he wasn't even a member. He took off work to help us move them in. He was later baptized, as well as his wife and one of his sons. He actually wasn't baptized until after I left for the Azores, but when I came back from the Azores one of my first stops was through that area. I saw his wife, and she told me the news about them being members. His wife hadn't been hardly interested at all when we stopped by, but now she had a glow to her face, and she recognized me even after being gone for 6 months. It was one of the best days of my life.
Sooooo... Long story short, I have a testimony of good ol' knockin doors, even though references are certainly the Lord's most effective way to proselyte. But yea. Have fun in Guacamole!
.........................
Oo. Seminary. I think Nutella should be ok. Anyway, I´m glad you´re doing well and have tons of new things to do.
My scripture I put on the envelope of my letter I sent last week. You should get it in about a week, but it doesn´t really matter what scripture it is, right? B-c the scriptures are full of truths. So yeah, my preferred scripture is Alma...I can´t remember right now, but yeah, maybe Alma 28 about how if all men were like Moroni, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men.
I think basketball shorts would also be nice in a package sometime. I didn´t bring any shorts and I exercise in pajama pants, which is kind of a pain, but doable. Yeah, hopefully my peanut allergy will go away. I hope. Love and kisses! Hna Peterson
.............................................
I don´t know if I can get my peanut allergy fixed, but I´d be willing to make a go of it if there were some chance. I have learned here 1. everything is better with peanut butter. 2. Breathing is more important than peanut butter.
But it´s hard sometimes, b-c I love peanut things and I never realized how much until just now. I know right, sweet to be still getting paid. Mom said I just got paid $700 this week. How rockin´ awesome is that? Working for the Lord and getting paid meanwhile.
Also, I realized again while telling my comp about my missionary paperwork adventure how much the Lord blessed me before my mission. I had work in Alaska, right after in MO with Fedex, and right after with Vancouver and the Olympics. The Lord watches out for us that is for definite sure!
Everyone is always ready to leave Alaska. Every year, every person. I´m glad Marcia loves me and remembers me. I try to make a great impression on people. It helps with tips, it helps your future, and it makes for a great life of friendly memories with friendly people.
I hope the zip makes it there for you to view it. I´d hate for you to miss it if you can´t wait to see it. Two weeks right? Yeah, it should be there while you´re there. I hope.
I´m glad your last week in Alaska blew by, you´re going home, maybe to see Courtney, is she still dating that youngun´? And a fake tour video with you as the star, how cool is that?
I remember praying not to wreck...at the end of every month actually, but yes, especially at the end of the summer. Amazing how your confidence picks up every year though. And maybe we could drive buses together in England for the Olympics there. How cool would that be? No, en serio.
Hauling stuff on flights in a backpack is...crappy and I´ve done it. Bonnie wants to travel Europe. You two should go together. Or the three of us. Yes! Yes for options. Isn´t it nice to have money? Did you make as much money as you hoped this summer? I didn´t my first summer, and you only had one job in Alaska, but 8000 is way more than you´d get in UT. That´s all I made my first summer. The second summer I made about $12000. What a blessing it is to have two jobs in Alaska, and way more fun, because you don´t have that many friends, but hey, you´re rich...Or richer, than other people...
Love to hang out. Have fun in MO without me. Happy Birthday son!!!! Love, Hna Peterson
...........................
Hah, one time Cookie thumbed a ride with one of her friend´s moms and I wouldn´t get in the car b-c she was a stranger, but finally Cookie made me..so we wouldn´t have to walk. Also, I´m sorry you´re having trouble getting Megan adjusted to school. I don´t remember that, but that´s probably because I was so young. Hah.
I´m with Megan and Dad. Chocolate cake and rubarb pie sounds supreme. Supreme. Sorry I picked a crappy paying major. If it helps, I still don´t know what I want to do with my life. Maybe in a year. Pray for me to figure it out.
Prayers are always nice to get right? Tell Megan Auntie Merilee loves her too.
Also, I´m doing great here in Los Olivos with Hna Gonzalez, another time around. What a blessing. Thanks for all the news. I read a twix wrapper which said they may contain particles of nut. What a crock. Love, Hna Peterson
August 16, 2010
I don´t know if I sent you an email last week. Maybe I didn´t b-c you sent me two of the same one as the week before? Or maybe because I didn´t have much time b-c I checked my hotmail and mom found out I was on...so I had like 3 seconds to check my hotmail and I didn´t even get to talk to anyone b-c my time was gone. (Editor's defense...I was trying to hook Merilee up to Sarah on "instant messaging" online...and this is the thanks I get?)
Thanks for the news... I miss those awesome snowcones of yester years. I love pirate day. I hope he talked like a pirate for you. I got a haircut this week. Now I have bangs and it´s a little shorter, but not short..but I´m starting to realize long hair is hot and heavy. So maybe this won´t last for long.
We have lots of roaches here. I think we´ve been doing well about killing them, but really, they´re still all over when we come home..but the great thing is, they´re usually little. Which is great, b-c I usually scream about the huge ones and Hna G just rolls her eyes.
Changing from my trainer was awesome! She was a great trainer, but she didn´t like talking to new people, which is our proposito and I didn´t know Spanish very well. And she had crazy mood swings. You know what I´m talking about. So yeah, now I have two comps, but Hna C is leaving and Hna G has crazy mood swings too. So boo for that. I´m a little nervous about being in a comp with just Hna G, but so is the mission..
And I think I have a peanut allergy. B-c this week I had a chocolate and peanut covered banana and had a hard time breathing after. Later I had a peanut, just to test it and the same happened. So I´m nixing peanuts, which is crappy b-c I love peanut things.
I had just bought peanut butter, peanuts in salt and lime, coated peanuts, peanut butter bon bons and mr. goodbars were waiting in the mixed chocolates I had bought...for the Mr. Goodbars. Lastima. So my comps bought most of the stuff off me and have been eating peanut butter bon bons all over the place in front of me. Boo. So no more snickers for me. What a crock. And no more nutter butters. Double crock.
So that allergy news is all I´ve got really for the week. And I´ve been thinking about getting an allergy test when I get home from my mission. Oh, and a ward member told us a great face treatment for wrinkles is to wash it with urine. I wonder which is worse, to wash your face with urine every 15 days or to have wrinkles.. I think I´ll maybe stick with the wrinkles. Love you so much. The church is true! Love, Hna Peterson
It´s really hot here. This week was hot, last week, and it´s rainy. Here, really rainy. We´re emailing a little earlier this week, and I wrote most of the news in my other email. About having a peanut allergy. How horrible. I tried a peanut one day this week just to see and I´m pretty positive it´s that. Inconvenient, b-c now I have a jar of peanut butter burning a hole in my suitcase I bought last week, to go with the cocoa for those nobake cookies.
And we get snickers for our birthdays from the mission president´s wife..so maybe I´ll include something about that in my letter to the president this week. B-c I don´t think I could handle the temptation.
So I´m staying away from peanuts and I´m going to have an allergy test when I get home. I don´t know if it´s really expensive..probably is. I don´t know if I need insurance, or if it would just be the same to get it without insurance, but know I´m planning to get one when I get home and maybe ask around for tips or places I can get one. I know, a year is a long time from now, but keep it in mind.
My hair´s looking good, but it´s hot and it´s heavy in a pony tail. So I don´t know if my long hair will last. We have lots of new investigators and not many old investigators. All our investigators know they need to change and don´t have any desire to do it. Boo. We saw a video about forever families for a lesson yesterday and my comps and I cried. Thanks again for the package.
I tried making brownie pancakes again and it just doesn´t work. But I had a sugar overload when eating the load of half cooked batter I ate afterwards. Even with banana. Banana pancakes are delicious however. Just put banana in the batter with your pancake mix. Always a good idea. And french toast is excellent. Glad you had fun at Yellowstone!
My comps are working at feminizing me.
They made me start lining the bottoms of my eyes with liner and they paint my nails weekly...they do theirs once a day. Not kidding. But my nails look awesome! Not long, just look great. Also, my hair´s getting really long and I think I want to cut it. It´s frizzy here and looks terrible. I feel like Rapunzel. Any tips? I know, I´m not here to impress people, but I don´t know what to do with it and I don´t trust anyone here to cut it.
Also, I miss the blueberries of Alaska. There´s tons of fruit here, but my comps never want it and they always say it´s too expensive when I try to buy it at the store...so I buy it when I can. Also, we picked tons in AK b-c we didn´t have many origional ideas about what to do with our time and we loved making blueberry crumb cake. Mmm. Maybe you could make it. Remember the sour creme coffee cake in the orange book at home? just put blueberries in with it. Delicious. Maybe you could call home and get the recipe. Mmmm
I was going to tell you to read Orson Scott Card, but if you´re reading the Wheel of time you´ve got plenty to read. I read OSC lots in Alaska b-c I love his books. I just started reading Jesus the Christ. Also a very cool book. I heard it´s hard to read...but so far, in chapter 2 I´m doing ok. I guess we´ve read a lot in our family and the books are necessarily easy reads. Maybe it´s pride. I´ll let you know when I´m deeper into the reading.
Sending love from the "deep" south, Merilee
Thanks for the news... I miss those awesome snowcones of yester years. I love pirate day. I hope he talked like a pirate for you. I got a haircut this week. Now I have bangs and it´s a little shorter, but not short..but I´m starting to realize long hair is hot and heavy. So maybe this won´t last for long.
We have lots of roaches here. I think we´ve been doing well about killing them, but really, they´re still all over when we come home..but the great thing is, they´re usually little. Which is great, b-c I usually scream about the huge ones and Hna G just rolls her eyes.
Changing from my trainer was awesome! She was a great trainer, but she didn´t like talking to new people, which is our proposito and I didn´t know Spanish very well. And she had crazy mood swings. You know what I´m talking about. So yeah, now I have two comps, but Hna C is leaving and Hna G has crazy mood swings too. So boo for that. I´m a little nervous about being in a comp with just Hna G, but so is the mission..
And I think I have a peanut allergy. B-c this week I had a chocolate and peanut covered banana and had a hard time breathing after. Later I had a peanut, just to test it and the same happened. So I´m nixing peanuts, which is crappy b-c I love peanut things.
I had just bought peanut butter, peanuts in salt and lime, coated peanuts, peanut butter bon bons and mr. goodbars were waiting in the mixed chocolates I had bought...for the Mr. Goodbars. Lastima. So my comps bought most of the stuff off me and have been eating peanut butter bon bons all over the place in front of me. Boo. So no more snickers for me. What a crock. And no more nutter butters. Double crock.
So that allergy news is all I´ve got really for the week. And I´ve been thinking about getting an allergy test when I get home from my mission. Oh, and a ward member told us a great face treatment for wrinkles is to wash it with urine. I wonder which is worse, to wash your face with urine every 15 days or to have wrinkles.. I think I´ll maybe stick with the wrinkles. Love you so much. The church is true! Love, Hna Peterson
It´s really hot here. This week was hot, last week, and it´s rainy. Here, really rainy. We´re emailing a little earlier this week, and I wrote most of the news in my other email. About having a peanut allergy. How horrible. I tried a peanut one day this week just to see and I´m pretty positive it´s that. Inconvenient, b-c now I have a jar of peanut butter burning a hole in my suitcase I bought last week, to go with the cocoa for those nobake cookies.
And we get snickers for our birthdays from the mission president´s wife..so maybe I´ll include something about that in my letter to the president this week. B-c I don´t think I could handle the temptation.
So I´m staying away from peanuts and I´m going to have an allergy test when I get home. I don´t know if it´s really expensive..probably is. I don´t know if I need insurance, or if it would just be the same to get it without insurance, but know I´m planning to get one when I get home and maybe ask around for tips or places I can get one. I know, a year is a long time from now, but keep it in mind.
My hair´s looking good, but it´s hot and it´s heavy in a pony tail. So I don´t know if my long hair will last. We have lots of new investigators and not many old investigators. All our investigators know they need to change and don´t have any desire to do it. Boo. We saw a video about forever families for a lesson yesterday and my comps and I cried. Thanks again for the package.
I tried making brownie pancakes again and it just doesn´t work. But I had a sugar overload when eating the load of half cooked batter I ate afterwards. Even with banana. Banana pancakes are delicious however. Just put banana in the batter with your pancake mix. Always a good idea. And french toast is excellent. Glad you had fun at Yellowstone!
My comps are working at feminizing me.
They made me start lining the bottoms of my eyes with liner and they paint my nails weekly...they do theirs once a day. Not kidding. But my nails look awesome! Not long, just look great. Also, my hair´s getting really long and I think I want to cut it. It´s frizzy here and looks terrible. I feel like Rapunzel. Any tips? I know, I´m not here to impress people, but I don´t know what to do with it and I don´t trust anyone here to cut it.
Also, I miss the blueberries of Alaska. There´s tons of fruit here, but my comps never want it and they always say it´s too expensive when I try to buy it at the store...so I buy it when I can. Also, we picked tons in AK b-c we didn´t have many origional ideas about what to do with our time and we loved making blueberry crumb cake. Mmm. Maybe you could make it. Remember the sour creme coffee cake in the orange book at home? just put blueberries in with it. Delicious. Maybe you could call home and get the recipe. Mmmm
I was going to tell you to read Orson Scott Card, but if you´re reading the Wheel of time you´ve got plenty to read. I read OSC lots in Alaska b-c I love his books. I just started reading Jesus the Christ. Also a very cool book. I heard it´s hard to read...but so far, in chapter 2 I´m doing ok. I guess we´ve read a lot in our family and the books are necessarily easy reads. Maybe it´s pride. I´ll let you know when I´m deeper into the reading.
Sending love from the "deep" south, Merilee
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