Week 3 [Letter 4 - MTC]

So I have made it through another week!!! This has been great!! I guess we are almost through week 4!!! Crazy!!! Well this week has been the same as the other weeks. Study, eat, sleep, class is pretty much my life now.  But in every class the Spirit testifies of my purpose as a missionary and teaches me what I need to know and do to serve the Lord with everything I have. 

This week we have focused on revelation through pray. We went to the TRC like we always do on Monday but this week something really cool happened. We walked into our first lesson and began talking with the girl there. All in spanish of course well as much as we can anyway. We talked about our prayers and the revelation that has come about through and because of them. The spirit was so strong it felt like it was vibrating through the room. The room was too small to contain in I'm sure. It was amazing. I already have a testimony of prayer but this experience has really opened up my eyes to its great importance. How amazing is it that a God, all knowing, all powerful, wants me a small person of billions to talk with Him daily, multiple times a day. Not only does He want me to pray but He wants you to pray also. He wants to know you, and He wants you to know Him. We can pray about anything. 

In spanish there is a formal and informal way of addressing someone. We are taught that we address our father in the informal because we are to be close to Him. This shows that relationship. I want to have that kind of a relationship with my Father in Heaven. So I have been working on my prayers. Talk to Him about everything. The good and the Bad. This has enlightened me both in the language of the Spirit and the Language of Spanish. Prayer can help. God listens. He answers. We just need to take the first step by kneeling and pouring out our soul to him. I love my Father  in Heaven and am so grateful for His Son, Jesus Christ. It is only thorugh Him that we can be saved and return to live with our Father in Heaven. Please Pray.

On a secular note (is anything really secular when you are a missionary) we still do not have our visas. I do not know if I told you this before but pretty much when they appear they will give us like two to three days notice that we are flying out and then we are gone. I am pretty sure I will be here until at least Monday and that is only if we get our Visas today (pray pray pray). It is so nice to here from everybody!! Continue to write. :D

Love you all so much!!

Love,

Hna. Dayna Lee Petru

LOVE YOU ALL!!

Week 2 [Letter 3 - MTC]

Well I made it through 2 whole weeks. It has gotten kind of dull we do the same thing all week pretty much.  I am learning a lot though. Which is good and I know that my Spanish has gotten better. I definately could not be learning this fast without the Spirit and the Lord helping me. Since it has been quite dull I thought I would introduce you to my MTC Family.  Well okay I was going to introduce you but this computer won't let me send pictures. Soooo I guess you will have to wait until after I get out of here. 

Visa status is still undetermined. We haven't heard anything but I keep praying. I know that the Lord will get me where I need to be when I need to be there. We are suppose to leave in four days which will most likely not happen. So a spiritual moment is next... This week was our first week in the TRC. I am not sure what it stands for but pretty much we go in and teach members that voulnteer in our mission language which will Spanish for me.  

Well This week My companion and I were able to meet this amazing lady who is from Mexico. Her daughter is called to serve and she comes to meet some of the people her daughter will meet and to partake of the Spirit.  We had an amazing time talking with her. At the end of getting to know a little bit about her my companion and I shared our testimonies of the Restored Gospel and our great love of Christ. The spirit was so strong! We don't know much in Spanish but if we know one thing it is how to testify of our love for our Savior and the peace His redeeming power.  It was awesome the power of very simple truths.  Well I love you all. and I will work on the picture thing because it is driving me crazy!!! Love you!!

Hermana Petru

FRIENDS!!! This means KIM, and KAREN, and ADRIANNE, and HYRUM, and NATHAN!! I have yet to recieve mail. I love you all and I pray that your lives are going well. LOVE YOU!!

1 Whole Week!! [Letter 2 - MTC]

Well I made it through my first week here in the MTC or as us spanish speaking missionaries call it the CCM. Not really sure what that means in spanish yet but it is what it is. :D My companion is the new coordinating sister I think I may have told you last week but that means that some of the time I have to be companion with the other sisters in my district, Hermana Yardley and Hermana Williams.  But yesterday I was a companion with my district leader Elder Evans and his companion Elder Fairbanks.  Those Elders are hilarious and I love my whole district. I was going to send pictures but I forgot my camera when we came down to email so they will be coming next week. We got finished teaching our first investigator, all in spanish of course. It was amazing!! helping someone come unto Christ right off the bat. Of course we found out later that she was actually a teacher here in the CCM.  Like two hours later guess what?!?! She is our teacher!!! Hermana Cutler is amazing! Her testimony is so strong and I loved listening to her talk about her mission and give us hints about our missions.  

Our other teacher is Hermano Davenport. He went to mexico on his mission. He has some really cool insights and I learn so much spanish from both. OH I was asked to be the music coordinator for my Branch/Zone. So I get to pick all the music for sacrament meeting.  Which brings me to sundays.... Typical sunday schedule includes Music and the Spoken Word, then Relief Society which generally means we get to her an general axuillary leader speak. Sister Doxey spoke last week on the strength of a righteous member not only in missionary work but also in our society. We have sacrament meeting after lunch which is all in spanish except when two of the branch presidency speaks, branch presidency is like out ward bishopric. Then we have a fireside that night! Last sunday it was the CCM admistrator. He was really cool and gave us a great prep talk on our purpose.  Which brings me to Tuesday Firesides. 

Guess who came and spoke to us on Tuesday? ELDER NELSON!! I was like 20 feet away from him. He gave a thought provoking talk on the Covenant of Abraham and how this covenant is essential to our salvation.  He also tied in the gathering of Isreal and how it was prophesied to happen in the latter days and that we as missionaries are part of this gathering.  It was an amazing scripture chain.  Finally he talked about the restoration as the tool to gather Isreal.  The restoration is to gather Isreal, Seal those familes together, and prepare the world for the 2nd coming.  Every single thing he told us had scripture references and he cited every scripture. I took like three pages of notes. It was amazing. I have never heard the Covenant taught like that. I understood the surface but I can't wait to further study and find even more meaning in this simiply complex story.

okay so sad news... We got a paper yesterday stating that our visas haven't arrived and that we are delayed until further notice. Which is very  sad. but I know the Lord will get me to where I need to be to learn and grow and serve the people I need to serve even if that means reassignment.

Thank you for your prayers about learning Spanish. I am on my way. I can pray very simply and testify of my love of Christ, the church, the Book of Mormon and the Prophets.  I have also learned how to congegate regular verbs. and lots of vocab.  I keep studying hard and I know the Lord will help me.  I have witnessed it already with our first investigator. Not remembering a word and pleading, searching for it in my brain and then either the word will pop into my head or I will know a way to describe the word sometimes with words I don't remember studying. It will come. I still pray nightly for strength and understanding as well as personal patience.  Thank you for all the letters and support. Hugs all around! Remember to pray always. The Lord loves you and I love you.

[Personal messages to family]

FRIENDS:  I love you all!! Please write!!

Sister Dayna Lee Petru

MTC mailbox 284

SPA MAL 0307

2005 N 900 E

Provo, UT 84604

I love you all!!!!

with all my love and prayers,

Hermana Petru

FIRST 4 Days [Letter 1 - MTC]

So here I am at the MTC!!! My companion is Sister Nelson. She is the coordinating sister in our zone because there is only 4 sisters and they are all in my district.  We all share a room.  Sister Williams and Sister Yardley are the other sisters.  These two and I are going to Malaga but my companion is going to Barcelona.  We have eight other elders in our district making us the largest district in our zone but hopefully all of us sisters are leaving on the 24th for Spain if our visas come through which we still don't know and won't know until the 14th.  I am working on spanish.  The other three sisters have had some form of formal training in spanish so they are doing great.  I struggle but they are patient with me and try to help me the most they can which I really appreciate.  

 

We do pretty much all of our class in spanish.  We have already learned to pray and testify in spanish.  they are simple prayers and testimony but they are something and with continued practice I am sure we will get it.  Last night we met our first investigator. She is from Hondorus and is here to learn english. She knows very little.  We met with her and asked about her family and such. And asked about her church. She is catholic and has such a strong testimony of Christ. It is trully amazing to see.  We were able to testify of our believe in Christ as our savior and express how important He is.  The spirit was so strong.  It was great. I thing we get to meet her again on Monday and I am excited to share with us how our churches are similar and different.  God trully loves His children.  It is amazing to see and so soon in my service. 

 

 

Recently I have been reading D&C 46 which is about gifts and it is amazing to think about the gifts that my companion and I have, how we compliment each other and how we can use each other to strengthen our weaknesses.  I am senior companion but my companion is coordinating sister so she is other all of us but in our companionship I am suppose to lead.  It is trully humbling to be called and such a blessing to be able to serve her.  Thank You for your letters it is always nice to have mail and to feel of your support. Thank you!!!  Hopefully I will have more to write next time.  Our Preparation day is friday so that is next I will write.  Love you all! Stay close to the Lord. Pray always! and stay strong.

 

 

Love,

 

Hermana Petru

Luncheon!

After Sister Petru's talk, Dayna's wonderful mother hosted a luncheon at their house. I'm not too familiar with people, but pictures of as many people we could get are here in this post. If you have more pictures from the luncheon you would like to post, leave a comment and I'll get back to you!

 

Sister Petru's Farewell Talk

Sister Petru gave a beautiful talk the Sunday before entering the MTC. She graciously gave me the written copy of her talk, and on account of her entering the MTC today [YAY!], here it is for your enjoyment.

"After receiving my call in the end of August, I prayed. I knew I was not ready. I knew that I needed my Father in Heavens help. So I found great solace on my knees daily praying for the experiences I needed to become as prepared as I could because logically I knew I would never feel completely ready. I didn’t know it but the very next day the Lord answered my prayer. As I walked into sacrament meeting I saw to lovely Sisters sitting on the stand and it took only a couple of meaningful glances from the Bishop and a hurried glance at the program to realize that these two ladies were the full time sister missionaries. I enjoyed their talks and introduced myself after the meeting giving them my phone number and mentioning to call me if they ever needed any help. Hoping they would call I left and became engrossed with my life.

Two months later toward the end of October I had this overwhelming feeling that I should call the sisters. I found their number but again became overwhelmed with minor details. Throughout the week I received the prompting again and again but seemed to find all the excuses in the world not to call right that second. Finally on Sunday probably after the 10th prompting, the Lord is ever patient, I called. And they didn’t pick up. So I left a small uncertain message with my name and number. To make a very long story short they eventually called me back and a new journey of self discovery and service began.

Throughout the month of November and December I became the missionaries little shadow, silently listening to lessons, learning in companion study, and praying continually. As the time draws closer for me to begin my full time mission I look back on these months and ponder what am I to learn from this great blessing? There have been many things I have learned along the way but what is the overall message? My answer came unexpectedly in a Testimony. This experience has not only nurtured my testimony but has shown me the power in a testimony. Great missionaries share their testimony in every lesson. Great missionaries teach with the spirit and the spirit is never stronger then when bearing testimony of the truth. Alma, one of the great missionaries of the Book of Mormon, finished teaching in Alma 5:45-46 with,

45 And this is not all. Do ye not suppose that I aknow of these things myself? Behold, I testify unto you that I do know that these things whereof I have spoken are true. And how do ye suppose that I know of their surety?
46 Behold, I say unto you they are made aknown unto me by the Holy Spirit of God. Behold, I have bfasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself. And now I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit; and this is the spirit of crevelation which is in me.

With this testimony he not only strengthen the church but helped others come unto Christ through baptism found in Alma 6:1-2.

So to be a great missionary or disciple of Christ I must have a strong testimony. How do I strengthen my testimony?

Henry B. Eyring in last year’s April general conference said this “Testimony requires the nurturing by the prayer of faith, the hungering for the word of God in the scriptures, and the obedience to the truth.”

Okay first, prayer of faith. Well I pray but how do I make a prayer a prayer of faith? Faith has been defined many ways. But what is faith? My favorite definition of faith comes from a talk by Gene R. Cook in 1980. He defined faith with 13 statements:

Faith makes men sure and steadfast.
After a trial of your faith comes the witness.
Faith is evidence of things not seen.
Faith is related to hope.
Faith is not a perfect knowledge.
Faith is related to belief.
Faith is not associated with doubt and fear.
Faith is the substance of things hoped for.
Faith is not a physical exertion. It is utilizing words.
Faith does not come by signs.
Faith is a principle of action in all intelligent beings.
Faith is maintained by personal righteousness.
Faith is power.

A prayer of power. God answers prayer according to faith. Faith is action. Faith is power. Therefore pray with faith, pray with power. Follow promptings. Just do it. As we do mountains will be moved. We will witness miracles and we will gain knowledge of the power of the Lord and His principles. This knowledge increases to our testimony and adds power because of our personal witness.

Next we must find a hungering for the word of God in the scriptures. I have struggled before for a hungering for the scriptures. I have always loved to read but for some reason the scriptures were hard. I never understood. I continued to struggle until someone introduced me to the wonder of the footnote. And Sister Gould and Sister Stander introduced the exciting world of scripture chains. Who knew that the topical guide, index and bible dictionary presented mini scripture lessons for about every topic known to man! Reading the scriptures from beginning to end has its advantages but for me the wonderful world of Alma didn’t begin to unfold until I read every scripture in Alma about faith. There is no rule book on how to conduct your personal study. If you have not found a hungering for the word of God in the scriptures try something new. Read through Mosiah with a red crayon and mark every time he talks about Christ or study the war chapters in Alma and ponder why they are important in testifying of Christ.

As you begin to find the answers to your personal marvels and the mysteries of God unfold before you an hour for personal study will not be enough to satisfy your hunger for the scriptures. The knowledge gained through scripture study builds our testimony of the prophets and the principles they teach. Scripture study is essential to our continued growth and strengthening testimony.

And finally Obedience to the truth strengthens our testimony. When I was little I remember obeying my parents. Not perfectly but when I did mostly it was the consequence of not obeying the sparked me action. Fearing my parents’ anger or disapproval motivated me to obedience. Eventually as I grew older obedience became a game of if I do this then I will be allowed to do that. The rewards of obedience outweighed my urge to rebel occasionally. And now I find that my obedience comes from a love and respect of my parents. I see this pattern also in regards to my Heavenly Father’s commandments.

We may begin because we fear His wrath. And as we obey we see His hand in our lives and the blessings He has given us so we continue to obey. But eventually we progress to a point that we obey Him because of our great love for Him. But we all have to start somewhere. Gospel Principles teaches, “It is better to obey the commandments because we fear punishment than not to obey them at all. But we will be much happier if we obey God because we love Him and want to obey Him. When we obey Him freely, He can bless us freely.” I am not perfect. I have a personal testimony of the Atonement but Obedience can bring happiness. It frees us from sin, heartache, and certain trials. Someone once said Missionaries have more rules because they need the extra blessings obedience brings. Obedience to truth brings knowledge of the Lord’s principles. This knowledge of obedience strengthens our testimonies in His commandments.

These three actions President Eyring submits to strengthen our testimony all have the same end goal. They bring about personal knowledge of the Lord’s power, His principles and His commandments. A testimony is a personal knowledge of our Lord’s plan. Sharing this personal knowledge helps invite the spirit to teach others who are listening and bares personal witness to each individual.

Great missionaries share their testimonies. So to begin this journey the right way, I would like to bare my testimony that I know that God knows and loves each of us. He cares about us. I know that Jesus Christ is my savior. He lives. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet called of God to restore Christ’s church. And Thomas S. Monson is a prophet, seer and revelator and we can find joy in obeying his words. I know that as we follow President Eyring’s teachings in praying with faith, feasting on the scriptures and obeying truth that our testimonies will grow and strengthen us, our families, and our community. And I say this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen"

What a wonderful start for Sister Petru in her journey to bring people to Christ! May all our prayers go with her and the people she is sent to teach.