Week 12: Motsumoto, Nagano; Companion/Trainer: Sister Takahashi

こんにちは

Hello everyone!!

I had a fun, busy week and let me just say God is so good for giving us the joy EACH DAY to be able to lay in bed and sleeeeep. Everynight I thank Him because wow what a blessing!!

On Monday, my companion Takahashi しまい (shimai, it means sister)  and I went with the ward mission leaders to visit Matsui しまい. This woman had a hard experience with leaders in her ward and hasn't been to church in like 40 years. I'm gonna be honest I understood about 5% of the entire visit we had with her, but I know this. We invited her to church and she said YES. Which was really wild because she has said no to that invitation many many times in the past! She is coming June 2nd so please pray she has a good experience.

Friday we went with the ward mission leaders again to visit a couple. The husband is Protestant (I think) and the wife is interested in the church but, um actually I don't know. It was all explained to me in broken English so I really did not pick up on much. But they were wonderful, talented people! Anyways, we read them Mosiah 7:33 about faith in the Lord. Takahashi しまい talked for a bit so I really did not know where the convo went. She turned to me and asked if I had anything to add. Luckily this couple understands English so I bore my  testimony in English about God's perfect plan for us hoping it made sense. I felt the spirit very strong at that moment. Not knowing if my message landed, the conversation returned to Japanese and I was lost again. Afterwards my sweet companion said to me that she knew I did not know what the conversation consisted of, but what I had said fit perfectly. "That's the Gift of Tongues" she said! Which was so cool because I have never thought of it working like that. 

Japan Tips for ya!!

-The Japanese love their characters, always text with emojis!

-No matter what, finish every last piece of food, yes this sometimes means holding your breath and shoving it in, yes I have had to do this on many occasions and its only my 2nd week here. 

-When all else fails, give a little bow.

-There are so many chopstick manners, so to be safe, avoid using them at all costs. Just kidding, but seriously learn all the rules before you insult someone over moving your hot bowl with your chopsitcks 

That's all for today!:)

The food here is really yummy! I will say I do miss a good classic PB&J and like Cheezits and stuff, but the RAMEN YUMMMMM! I have tried so many yummy new things and still have so much more to try. It's very fun.

Oh and Takahashi しまい's bike helmet got stolen HA. I couldn't help but laugh at her, because who would steal an old white bike helmet, IN JAPAN?!?!?!? No one steals in Japan. But I did comfort her and told her that it's okay because at least someone is being safe now. 

My spiritual thought for ya will be Mosiah 7:33 (as previously mentioned)

"And Christ hath said: If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me"

The way I look at this scripture is that when we have faith, we can do anything God puts in our path. Faith brings power. We are meant to go through hard things because God has a plan for us. He knows they will strengthen us and help us become the people he knows we can be. HE SEES OUR FULL POTENTIAL, why wouldn't we trust in His plan? I ask each of you to look back on your life and recognize the things that have made you who you are, because God did that!

I LOVE YOUUUU AND GOD DOES TOOO

<3 Peterson しまい

 (don't forget the emojis!)

Week 11: Motsumoto, Nagano; Companion/Trainer: Sister Takahashi

Google Translate + Sis Peterson = BFFs

Everyone! Hello! 

I have had quite the week. Yayyy I made it to Japan and my first area! I am currently in the Motsumoto, Nagano area! It is north of the mission and it is so beautiful here. It reminds me of home in the way thay there are neighborhoods, stores, and random fields. I love it.

My amazing companion is Sister Takahashi!!! I got so lucky! I love her so much. She is fully Japanese and started learning english on her mission. She has been out for 1 year and I am quit impressed with her English. Much much better at English than I am at Japanese. She is very patient with me and is very willing to help me.

We taught 2 men who were found by the previous missionaries who served in this area. We gave 1 a Book of Mormon and we invited the other to church and guess what. HE CAME! It was really cool to see that my first week here. Even though I could not understand the lessons we had with them, I felt the spirit and saw the power of missionary work first hand.

Some things about Japan that I have learned

-DO NOT WEAR SHOES INSIDE... not even your own home 

-in fact you take your shoes off quit often. For example, take your shoes off before going into a dressing room at the store 

-I have yet to see a piece of garbage on the ground outside, America, we can do better

-all the kids are SO CUTEEE

-Shopping is so cheap here compared to home, I will definitely be coming home with a whole new wardrobe

-yes the toilets are very nice 

-you can leave your handbag or anything of yours alone for a very long time and no one will touch it!

-Japanese people LOVE blue eyes, I don't have blue eyes but they have been fascinated by my family's 

That's all for now

Something I promised myself is to make my emails real! I want to do this because I went into a mission not really knowing what the struggles I was going to face were. If I can prepare anyone for a mission the way I wish I had been prepared, I will! Or if I can bring comfort to anyone who can relate a little bit, at least I accomplished that while on my mission.

Despite my patient companion and the kind members, it is easy for me to feel lonely. I have a huge desire to converse with the people around me, but I can't because I cannot speak their language very good... well feels like not at all. It feels very isolating. I think this same feeling can be applied to a lot of different situations. Something I keep reminding myself is that Jesus Christ went through this exact same thing. He knows. 

President Russell M. Nelson taught that “when the focus of our lives is on God’s plan of salvation … and Jesus Christ and His gospel, we can feel joy regardless of what is happening—or not happening—in our lives. Joy comes from and because of Him.”

He is the answer. And something I am so grateful for are all the tender mercies/positives of the day He puts in my life. Because of Him, I can still feel joy when I am going through a hard time. He is with me, has never left, and will never leave. He knows how to help.

With that said I am loving it here in Japan and the kindness of all the people I come across. I look forward to the day I can have not just 1 sided conversations with them! Also sorry this email was kinda all over the place and really long.

I love you all, but God loves you most! ttyl

<3 Sister Peterson

05/20/24

Sister Peterson has arrived safely to the Japan Nagoya Mission

Dear Brother and Sister Peterson, 

 

President and Sister Chidester asked me to let you know that we are deeply grateful to you for sending your wonderful daughter to the Japan Nagoya Mission. She arrived safely at the Nagoya Mission on May12th, 2024. Sunday, Monday and Tuesday were spent with the other eight missionaries who came to the mission with her. They all had a great time together at the orientation and having meals together.

Your daughter will now work with Sister Takahashi in the city of Matsumoto. We deeply appreciate her willingness to come to Japan to serve her Heavenly Father. We will do our best to help her stay safe and healthy and experience the joy of sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Please continue to support your daughter so that she can work joyfully in the Lord’s work in Japan.

With love and gratitude,

Sister Ashcroft

Office Secretary 

Week 10: Provo MTC; Companion: Sister Merrill

I AM IN JAPAN

*Meant to send this last week but did not get the chance*

I made it!! After the longest day of traveling, I have made it to Japan. BUT this week was all mainly MTC so some updates on that...

I had to say bye to my most favorite teachers and half of the most amazing sistrict out there. (4 others are in Nagoya with me... well we are waiting for 1 to get her visa then she will be here) It was a rough because the goodbyes stretched over a span of like 3 days, but we made it through!

On monday our girls took on the challenge of clearing 1 collum of the cereal dispenser. 1 was so easy so then we ended up clearing 2 before the angsty cafeteria workers refilled them. I think I ate the most and I am hesitate to share how much I ate because I am not sure if I should be super proud of it or a little embarrassed. Oh well, I ate a total of about 4.5 bowls. (Picture below) The top of my mouth was literally scratched up and took about 3 days for it to fully recover. And I was on the verge of vomiting for the next hour, but I had to carry my team!!!! No regrets.

Another highlight of the week: We combined with the Thai and Vietnamese district and sang the EFY medley to the new missionaries. It was very fun and spiritual especially singing "Armies of Helaman" (picture below) as a missionary, very cool. 

Tuesday night we had a devotional by Clark G Gilbert and it felt like the perfect last devotional and that it was just for me. He served his mission in Japan AND he mentioned Captain Crunch cereal (I think our whole disctrict gagged when he did)! His wife also talked and she focused on Christ-like attributes. Something she said was that "what matters most is who you are and who you are becoming." Your mistakes from the past don't matter, what matters is how you choose to learn from them. The Lord blesses those who want to improve. I think a theme of life is that the Lod loves effort. The outcome doesn't matter so much but how and what you are working towards. 

Moroni 10:32 says

"Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him"

As you work to become like Christ and adopt his attributes, you will come to know Him and be perfected in Him and I know that to be true.

I love you all and guess what GOD DOES TOO! Have a good week 

<3 Sister Peterson

05/13/24