It is hard to believe that January is over and we are deep into Feb. Our weather here has been really mild... Last year - if you remember we were hip deep in snow and -17F.
This year - so far we have been Spring like with temps as high as 40F and not even hitting 0. I think the lowest we have been so far was 16. Balmy!! Things are suppose to change this week with snow every day and by Sunday lows at about -14F. But then it starts warming up again and back in the 30s. My kind of winter!!!
We were walking on one of the many walking trails and saw our favorite river looking not like the "ice fisherman's dream" of frozen smooth glass and beautiful snow...... but this.... it looked like shards of glass that had been broken and stacked with shards sticking straight up in the air. I guess with all the freezing and thawing... it cracked, flowed, and stacked. It was beautiful!!
Well enough of the weather report.... on with life.
In addition to teaching families, having lots of meetings, and doing research for the Bishop we also get to go to the temple once a week. We have scheduled every Friday to go. The first Friday of the month we meet other Senior missionaries there and had lunch after. It is a great excuse to get together and support each other. The second Friday of January we took the missionaries. What a great District we have. They are hard working and loving what they are doing. They get to go to the temple once a transfer... so they were excited for our first outing there together.
The 3rd and 4rd weeks we open up to the ward. There are many who do not have cars and the cost of taking the bus ($70) very often is out of their budget. So we let everyone know which days we are going and take as many as we can. We took a brand new return Sœur Missionary who had just been home a couple of days, and her mother. She was so full of the spirit - as most missionaries are - even though she was home. The next week we took the same mom and an elderly lady whom we have grown to love. She had not been since the temple opened and she had a whole stack of family sealings to get done. It was a blessing to watch her in her excitement and joy. On the way home she said that she wanted to go every time that we went. She was so happy and excited to be back at the temple.
We were also blessed to be able to watch the International Missionary training broadcast on the 20th of January. It was a blessing to be able to hear and learn from those who have the understanding of how we can better our service to our Heavenly Father and to the Savior. As Elder Andersen said.........
“Speak of the Savior. Testify of Him. Speak of His doctrine, of faith in Him and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.” —Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
We are trying to be better missionaries, just as we are trying to be better people. Our Heavenly Father put us here on the earth to learn and to grow. Unless we are continually doing that.... we are wasting our time and since we only have a few years here on the earth.... we should make the most of what we are given.
Once a quarter we have a Zone Conference with our Mission President and his missionary leaders. We have recently had our district moved to the Northern Zone so instead of going to Montreal area we go to Quebec. It is about 45 min longer drive -- making it close to 3 hours. Each of the teams in our district has a car... but for all three cars to go every time we have a meeting would be costly, so we usually take the district with us and let them save the clicks. We also try and add a District activity on our trip. Many of them have never been to Quebec and there is a lot to see there. Last time we went to Old Quebec and this time we went to the Hotêl de Glace (Ice Hotel) It is created each year from scratch and carved and sculpted to create a new functioning hotel. This years theme was Water. So the rooms and decorations all had something to do with water. Even though we knew it was created from ice and snow - it was still hard to believe how COLD it was!!!! Our noses were freezing!! But it was beautiful. Every room had a bed made out of ice, and like most hotels, some were huge and elaborate suites, and some were just boring, run of the mill rooms. There were no doors on the rooms only curtains at the openings, no bathrooms (we were told that you use the facilities in the office before retiring for the night - I guess none of the guests are over 50 and get up during the night) But - that being said.... it was a beautiful place. I am not sure if I can attach a video... but there was even a slide carved into the ice.... such fun.
This is the chapel. I understand they have quite a demand for weddings. Even the pews are made of ice.
This is the Alaska river suite. The largest and most detailed. It was stunning. The top bear is standing on a waterfall and catching a salmon. The bed is right in the middle of the ice river. I don't know who the artists were.... but they did a beautiful job. This room rents for $799ca a night and if you want access to the attached hot tub room.... that is an additional $150. So, for a mere $1k a night you can freeze in this beautiful room.
But - district activity is not the most important event of the week. The reason to go to Quebec is the Zone Conference. We have the best mission president. He is a very wise and articulate man. He always seems to know exactly what to say and how to present it. Some of the highlights from this conference were things we already knew... but needed to be reminded of. But others were new insights and increased understanding of what is important. Wow.... I had my eyes opened and my heart expanded with new thoughts and new insights to doctrine.
Some old information, but new understanding related to the Doctrine of Christ. The doctrine being ... Faith, Repentance, Baptism, Receiving the Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the End. I love how we learn line upon line and precept upon precept. Our minds opening up to new understanding as our heart is prepared to learn, and that understanding draws us closer to our Savior and our Heavenly Father. My understanding of the Doctrine was added to, and I loved the new way I look at it.
Mysteries of the Kingdom was another ah-ha moment. I have always been against delving into them. I was waiting to get to the other side to try and understand them. What ever they were. But, Mysteries of the Kingdom are really just things we don't understand. Some we may not understand in this life..... but there are many that we come to understand as our testimony and our relationship to our Savior increases. They are the things that resonate in our soul. We learn about them through inspiration and revelation. What a wonderful thought, to have the opportunity of understanding "Revealed Truth"
One of the greatest things I personally learned is that of perfection. It is hard for most of us to not feel guilty about not being perfect. We are human and being perfect is a very hard concept for us to hope to ever obtain. In fact.... total perfection is not achievable in this life. But, I came to understand that as we Love the Lord and Serve Him "THE VERY BEST WE CAN" and we are "Striving for" perfection (Doc. & Cov 46:9) ..... then through the Grace of God we can be made perfect. I still need to do my part and to "The Very Best I Can", but, "The Very Best I Can" is Perfect for now.
We had the great surprise of our new Grandson... Jeremy ...... deciding to get married. So we have our very first Grand - Daughter in law. We wish them all the happiness and joy that marriage can bring. It is a wonderful opportunity to grow and develop with the one you love.
We were not able to be there in person... but SKYPE is a wonderful thing and we were able to enjoy in via the screen.
Brent has been invited to be a member of the Ecumenical Council of Sherbrooke - so he has been meeting with the leadership and having some wonderful discussions with them. The first big event was the worldwide weekend of prayer and at the Sunday Prayer meeting all the donations went to help the local Syrian refugees of the local Christian Syrian Orthodox Church. Christians who were forced out of their country because of their belief in God.
Our Sweet Sister Gardner went home last week. She is from Altamont, Utah and we are going to miss her. She was a great leader and missionary. She is going to be a great asset where ever she lands in her "post mission" life. She was loved by the families in the ward and also by the other missionaries. (She is the tall blond one)
That's all for now.... have a wonderful month and Happy Valentines to All!!
Love Elder and Sister Petersen
