Humility is Confidence!

Sister Ramirez

February 16, 2015

It has been a good good week. I have been learning a lot about humility. Getting a new companion and having to lead the area, at least for this first little bit, has been a challenge with blessings! The first day of the transfer, I realized I needed to study humility as my Christlike attribute of the transfer. I need to be humble enough to hear and follow the spirit, to take ideas from a new companion, to make mistakes, to fix mistakes, to take correction, to give the day over to Heavenly Father, etc. etc. What I've realized is that humility equals confidence. If we are humble, we trust that God has a plan for us and we are willing to follow it. We can be confident in the fact that HE knows what he is doing, even if we don't! We can say like Ammon, "I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things." I KNOW in His strength, I can do all things.

Yesterday, B was baptized! I am amazed at her faith and trust in God. She KNOWS she is on the right path. She is determined to be active in the church, and she is so excited to go to the temple, share the gospel with her family and friends, and learn more about Jesus Christ. That woman will move mountains! I am just so proud of her. I know she will be a great asset to the ward, with her sweet spirit and incredible faith. It was a sweet experience to watch her step out of the font, smiling bigger than she ever has! She has been a blessing in my life.

B's  Baptism!

Sister Ramirez is my new companion!! I've attached a picture of us :) She is as sweet as pie. Seriously, she is one of the nicest humans I've ever met. She was just so happy to work hard and dive right in. She is from Shelley, Idaho. She's 23, and she's SUPER musical! Which is a pretty incredible plus :) She plays the piano, so now we get to switch off playing for Relief Society! Yay!!! :) We also sing hymns for companionship study. And she plays the violin! She's played pretty much all of dad's violin arrangements...so that was pretty cool haha! Oh, and she was homeschooled! We're like the same person! :) I'd love to answer any more questions you have about her :) I can tell we are going to get along great and have a fantastic transfer!

I love this gospel, which teaches us we can get answers to ALL our questions, directly from God. Just a brief experience from this week. On Friday we helped teach one of the elder's new investigators, a family we did service for last week. J., the husband, was firing intellectual questions about the gospel left and right, and sort of trying to "disprove" the Book of Mormon with his logic. I came away from that lesson feeling like I needed to gain an even stronger testimony of the truth of the book of Mormon, and a testimony that ALL seekers of truth can know the Book of Mormon is true, by asking God. So I asked God, like I had many times before, if the Book of Mormon was REALLY, completely, totally true, and if J. could know that if he had the faith enough to ask. I didn't receive an immediate answer this time, but the next day, when we were teaching a new investigator about the Restoration, it was my turn to bear testimony. As soon as I opened my mouth to testify of the Book of Mormon, I had this incredible feeling that I really DID know that it was true, and I knew that I could honestly promise that same knowledge to others, if they just sincerely desire it! There is so much to trust about God's timing. He knows what we need and when we need it, and he will give if we ask. I trust Him so so much. much more than I ever have! I trust Him in his decision to keep me in Danville, and to give me Sister Ramirez as a companion. I trust His spiritual guidance. I trust that he can grow me much faster than I every could grow myself. I trust his love for me!

Well, I'll get off my speech box. I love how much I am learning on my mission. I know I have learned more than I ever thought I would. It is truly a great time to be converted to the Lord!

Some wisdom from "True to the Faith": "To be humble is to recognize gratefully our dependence on the Lord—to understand that we have constant need for His support. Humility is an acknowledgment that our talents and abilities are gifts from God. It is not a sign of weakness, timidity, or fear; it is an indication that we know where our true strength lies. We can be both humble and fearless. We can be both humble and courageous."

I love you all!!! Keep being amazing.

Sister Petrie

Oh I totally forgot I didn't tell you!! J. got baptized on Tuesday, before Sister Biddle left! It was a happy week of baptisms :)

J's baptism!!

Transfer week!!!!

Sure Love Sis. Biddle!

February 9, 2015

What a great week!

Transfer calls came in on Saturday!! I'm staying here in Danville, and Sister Ramirez will be my new companion :) We actually got transfer calls from President Morgan, because he called Sister Biddle to be an STL! She'll be moving to O'Fallon MO. I am so proud of her! She'll do great!

This week started off with exchanges. I stayed in Danville again, and I got to be with Sister Barrett! She is an amazing missionary. I learned so much from her about diligence and hard work! I TESTIFY of exchanges! I've noticed that every exchange brings at least one miracle. Here's the miracle of this exchange.

Exchanges

Our first appointment of the day was with B. We brought a member, Sister J, and we were so excited for the lesson! But when 2:00 rolled around, B. didn't show up! We were just sitting there waiting and talking, when a lady walks in and sits down nearby. Of course, we start talking to her! We told her about who we were and the church, and she says, "Oh, my Grandpa was a Mormon!" It turns out that her Grandpa, J. L, was a good friend of Sister J., the member that we had with us! They were instantly able to connect, and we were able to teach her a little about where her grandpa is now (he passed away a few years ago). We went back to see her on Friday. She said she knew her Grandpa would want her to talk to us. YAY. I just KNOW God places people in our path. We just need to have the faith to talk to them!

B.'s baptism has been pushed back because she's been really busy...but she finally had her interview on Saturday. I have never seen a happier person! She used to be so sad all the time...but just seeing how far she has come has been incredible. I know baptism is the path we need to take! She will be baptized this coming Sunday.

Sorry this email had to be short...Sister Biddle needs to pack! I am going to miss her so much!

I love you all. Remember this gospel...is TRUE. God will tell you all about it if you ask.

Sister Petrie

  

God Loves YOU!

I Love Teaching the Gospel!!!

February 2, 2015

It was another incredible week. Sister Biddle and I are excited to finish out the transfer together with a whole lot of hard work and love for these people. I can't believe this is the last week! Time flies.

We're preparing for a couple baptisms...trying to fit them in before Sister Biddle leaves! :) B. is getting baptized this Saturday. Will you pray for her? She knows she is doing the right thing. I love her! J., M.'s younger son is getting baptized next Tuesday...the day before transfers! He is so excited. I just love their little family!

We set a baptismal date with S...March 7th. She is so cool. I can't even express how much I love her and want her to succeed. I can't believe I'm blessed enough to teach her!

We are really excited about the incredible couple we are teaching, S. and J. They are just our age! We connect so well because we are in the same stage in life. J. is really truly searching. It's so interesting how everyone we teach has different struggles. But the same message helps resolve each one, and that is the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Truly our trials come from many sources, but our answers all stem from one source--and that is Jesus Christ. 2 nephi 31:21. Turn to him!

I've been thinking a lot about testimony, and true conversion this week. I want to help the people I teach be deeply converted. We learn in the parable of the sower in the Bible that if our roots are shallow due to poor nourishment, they won't be able to stand the storms and tempests that come. Depth leads to strength! The more deeply we study and incorporate the principles of the gospel, the stronger we will become. It's been incredible to see so many people deepen their roots. They are truly strong, and because of that, they are so blessed and happy!

Be a missionary like Christ was! He didn't flaunt titles or spout off memorized door approaches. He loved. He served. He spent his time for the one. I want to be a more Christlike missionary. I know that when people can see that I represent Christ, then they will be willing to listen to the messages I share.

Well I've been slacking. I don't have any pictures for this week!! Just know I'm happy and smiling, and excited for another great week.

I love you all!

Sister Petrie

I LOVE Being A Missionary!

January 26, 2015

Oh how I LOVE being a missionary!

Our zone and Springfield zone! Look at all those awesome missionaries!

There were some definite ups and downs of this week. But I'm learning so much!

Weekly Planning JOY!

We are so excited for S. I can't even tell you how much I love that girl. Every time we teach her I feel like I get a glimpse of how much Heavenly Father cares for her. She is doing fantastic on her goal to be done smoking by february 14th. She's cutting down every day, and she says she knows that Heavenly Father is answering her prayers and taking away her desire to smoke.

B. is doing fantastic as well! We taught her the Word of Wisdom...you always get a little nervous teaching that one! We just hoped that it would come across to her like it was...a commandment from God! Not us imposing rules. We taught her the principles, and then read the last part of D&C 89, where the Lord gives us promises. After we asked her what she thought, she said, "well...those are blessings I just can't pass up!!!" WOW. miracle.

The spirit really teaches these people. The better I get a teaching the more I realize that I play such a small role in the conversion of these investigators. The spirit does the converting!

We starting teaching a couple from Puerto Rico this week. They are incredibly prepared. The wife, C., went to church in Peurto Rico when she was younger, but never got baptized. She wants her husband to know about the LDS church and to go at least once, so they are both willing to listen to our lessons. We're excited about them!

We also helped someone move and cleaned 2 houses this week. Shout out to mama...THANK YOU for teaching me how to clean! I see why it's important now :)

Sister Petrie 

Our mailbox got run over. Won't be getting mail for a bit haha!

Paint an edible train! It's pretty fun.