PS

We went out to the Bishop's home this afternoon to wish Sr Desjourdy a happy birthday.  Yes their home is as picture perfect as it looks - in a beautiful wooded setting.  We love that place!!

While we were there she told us about a cute little town called North Hatley that is just a couple more miles down the road... so of course we had to go.  The road there was like driving through the Uintahs.  Beautiful trees... deep snow...  blue sky.... and the best part....  dry roads!

There were lots of beautiful homes tucked in the woods

and I don't have a picture, but there was even a ski resort!

The cute little town is located on the North end of a huge lake and I guess is quite the hot spot in the summer.  But now...  there was ice fishing, ice skating, cross country skiing, and I would hope some snowshoeing going on.

Anyhow....  just wanted to add a little postscript to yesterday's entry because it was such a nice surprise to find this cute little town. 
OH--  they also have a great pastry shop that we had to get some yummies at!!

Enjoying Winter Wonderland

 We now have one official week under our belt and life is better than expected.   We had a WONDERFUL couple who taught us how to be couple MLS missionaries and then they sent us here to Sherbrooke.  And what a pleasant surprise it was.

 We are really doing pretty good.  The apt is great much bigger, cleaner and easier to get to than we expected.  So we are happy.  It is an apt that hasn't been used by the church before, so we are having to outfit it with all the basics (and not so basics - but comforts) so we have spent a LOT of money the last week, but our  last trip to Walmart was only $23 today, so our list is getting smaller and smaller.  

The weather is crazy the highest we have had was 23F and the lowest was -17, but should get lower than that in the next couple of days.  It keeps snowing and getting deeper.  But the amazing part is that the roads thaw at 20!!!  how does that happen?   In Utah...  it is deep freeze at 20 and road are bad... here it is a heat wave and roads thaw.... weird.  

We both bought a nice warm parka (even with fur around the hat) so we are keeping really warm going to meetings, visits, shopping, and church. We tested them out on our P day yesterday and went snowshoeing behind our apt. 

It was a beautiful day and we had a great time.

The French is SLOWLY coming along...  I have to keep telling myself I have only been here a week and as long as I understand more today than yesterday - I am doing good.  We had to give our testimony in church last Sunday - in French (YIKES!!)  Well it was partly in French... Brent spoke for about 10 minutes and I spoke about 10 sentences.  We have both given a half dozen prayers.... mine were mostly just a few sentences and always the same.  But....    slowly   right!!

Brent is doing really good.  He has been translating for a member of the ward and going to LOTS of meeting.  He rarely has to ask what is being said.

We have been to appointments/visits with the Elders, the Sisters, on our own and many mtgs with the bishop, the ward mission leader, district mtgs, and even some dinner appointments!!  So we have really been busy.

One of the members said today that they were really worried because they haven't gotten as much snow as they should have.....  WHAT....   I guess you can tell by the fire hydrant signs that they really expect it to get much higher.

Here is our cute little ward.  It is smaller than a regular Utah ward, but is really nice.

Brent decided to shovel the ramp to one of the doors when we were there today....   maybe if he gets it shoveled --  it will be possible to see the cement.


Well -  better finish for this week...  and we leave you a thought that was on the wall of our trainers.....   May you put your trust in our Loving and Caring Lord.

Have a great week.
Elder and Soeur Pet
ersen

We have arrived!!  We are now in Montreal...  but will only be here until Monday. We are assigned to a smaller town in the South East corner called SHERBROOK.

Oh my goodness....  remember when we were told that Senior Missionaries take it kind of easy.....  NOT

We went out with our "trainers" today.... the Vallecalles

They fed us breakfast and then taught us the ropes until 10:30 -- then we were out and about.

From then until 6:30 we:

visited 6 families

the men gave 2 healing blessings

they contacted 3 families on the phone

went to the church and ran off the program for Sac mtg tomorrow

then went to the Mission Pres house and had dinner with their family and the Vallecalles. 

Home at 10 ---

that is a 12 hour day for those of you who are counting.  They said that they do that 6 days a week...  oh wait...  they come home early on Sunday and only work until 5!!  instead of 9:30   YIKES ---  these guys are amazing!!  that is why their ward now has a 60% attendance instead of the 30% when they arrived.

They have set the standard - now we have to learn to do it.

I did my mental stretching and gave 2 prayers in French (well kind of French) Brent was working hard deciphering the Classic French and the Quebecois.  So needless to say we crashed when we got home to our little hotel room.

Once we get to Sherbrooke we will hopefully have more time to add some more pics and info.

Loves

ELder and Sr Petersen