HELLO! [Letter 30, July 30]

HI there!

This week has been very eventful. We went to a specialized training on Tuesday and had our first interviews with President Deere. It was really nice to get to know him a little bit more. The mission is doing great things and he is quite the leader. I am learning a lot of great things from him about the gospel and about missionary work. It is definately making me into a better missionary. One of the things we learned in Specialized Training that has compeletly changed our lessons is the commitment process in PMG. 

Ask

Promise blessings

Testify

Follow up

As we have started to follow these step The Spirit has been so powerful. It has completely changed our lessons. Not only to our investigators feel the spirit testify to them but our lessons with members have changed. I can't even explain it fully. But also Hermana Crowder and I have been discussing how this life on the mission is kind of like a mini two year life. We are born and die and inbetween we learn and grow.  Something kind of cool, after I learned this process I watched as one of the mothers here in Nerja use the same process with her children. It was amazing. also I have started finding this same process in the scriptures. The Lord uses the same pattern when he gives commandments. It is just amazing how much we can learn from the gospel. There are so many practical everyday uses for it! Christ compared the gospel to bread for everyday use not cake for special occasions. 

Anyway, Also I wanted to share a really cool expierence we had this week with a less active family. On Thursday we were up in Algarrobo. It is a small pueblo but many of our members live there. We went up because it was important to see a couple of them but we also had a appointment with a less active boy. Great Great Great people. Anyway, that night we also had a very important meeting planned with a less active mother and her 8 year old son. The young boy really wants to be baptized but the mom hasn't been to church for 9 or so years. There are some really had feelings there with family and other dificulties. But she is working through them and it is amazing to see the power of the Atonement in her life. Anyway, we had to catch two buses down from Algarrobo to get back to Nerja for the cita. We had to catch those buses because the less active mom had to return to work so we only had a small window to meet with her. The only problem was that the second bus doesn't stop at the bus stop we normally wait at. And we didn't know where it did stop. Well I had an idea to wait a a bus stop a little bit down the road. It was more of a main stop. We got there and silently prayed that the bus would stop. When it came by IT STOPPED. but the bus driver wouldn't open the door because he doesn't pick passengers up from that stop. We looked up at him throught the glass door and mouth please. He took pity on us and opened the door. He asked where we were going. As we responded NERJA he motioned for us to get on the bus. WHAT A MIRACLE!!! As we sat down we about died with gratitude and we thanked the Lord fervently. But that wasn't the best part. As we began to talk to Elvira and little Armando we asked Elvira to talk about her baptism. With tears in her eyes she bore one of the more beautiful, sincere, loving testimony of the ordinace of baptism, its importance, and the truthfulness of the chruch. Her little boy gave her the biggest hug afterward. It was such a moment. The Spirit was awesome in the true sense of the word. As I think about that experience I know why I am a missionary. That one 45 minute lesson made up for the 100 degree weather, the 100 or so slammed doors and no show investigators. Anyway and kind of needless to say Armando is going to be baptized this FRIDAY!! The spark of that little boy and his love for the gospel and his Savior is bringing his family back into activity. He has a younger brother that comes to primary with him and they read in the scriptures with their older brother. There mom comes to chruch with them every once in a while. But these small acts are uniting his family and slowly they are healing from the pain from the past. The gospel is true. The chruch is true. I love you all. Stay safe and stay close to the Lord.

Love,

Hermana Petru

Pictures [Letter 29]

Hermana Crowder

Me

Mate a paraguyan drink. Pretty good with aquarius

San Juan Cathedral in Vélez Málaga 

Convent in Vélez Málaga. It closed only 2 years ago after the reverend mother died. I think it was established in the 1800´s or earlier.

Zone leaders Elder Hatch and Elder Shaver with Hermana Ross and Hermana Roderick. Hermana Roderick came with me from the Provo MTC and Hermana Ross trained Hermana Gibson and is now companions with Hermana Roderick in Granda. 

Hermana Ross and me here in the mission they call her my abuela or grandma because she is the madre of my madre Hermana Gibson

Week After Week [Letter 28 - Narja]

Dear Loved Ones,
As I look back on my emails I realize that I do not share much about the actual people that I work with so I would like to introduce some people and share a bit of thier stories.

Okay so right now we are working our tails off trying to find all the futures that we found in Dia de Diamante. Following up and teaching kind of things. Some of them were fake addresses but we keep on keeping on. but we found a wonderful lady. Her name is Lucia and she has 2 kids and is 24. She had her first one at the age of 16. Her little girl is adorable and is only 16 months old. She believes in God but not in the Catholic church like her family because she feels the church is corrupt and is only in business for money not bringing others to Christ. She doesn't feel that it is right th charge for baptisms and marriages and communions and everything else. She is willing to read and pray and says that she would like to attend chruch. We have only taught her once but she seems really interested. 

We are also teaching a little 8 year old boy. He is really cute. He won't do the communion even when he was asked about it. He says that the mormons are his church and that he wants to be baptized. His mother is very less active. She has had a lot of hard times. Some of them have to do with the church. Whenever we come around she just starts to weep. But she wants her sons to be apart of the church if they want because she knows that happiness can be found there for them but not for her right now. BUT GUESS WHAT?!?! She is in Nerja this week, usually she lives in a small pueblo, for work and one of our members is her friend. They were visiting together and the member was going to bring the little boys to chruch yesterday. Just as we were about to start sacrament meeting they arrived with the mom is tow. Her name is Elvira. Our meetings are always tear feeled and I have never felt the Love of the Lord for someone to strongly before. She is a very special lady and I am privledged to learn from her.

Zulhlia is a paraguayan like pretty much all of our members. She lives in Vélez and has a testimony that the Book of Mormon is true. Right now her coworker in the Locotorio is away on vacation so she doesn't have sundays off. we are waiting for next month when he returns. we are praying that she will come to church. She hasn't accepted baptism but she hasn't said now to it either. She is really really nice. It's always fun to talk to her and she is very very patient with my spanish and helps me out. She is trying to learn english so we share and teach a little each time we stop by.

and probably the most important person is HERMANA CROWDER. Seeing as I spend all day, everyday with her. She is a very good missionary. She is very diligent and hard working. I still have a hard time with street contacts but she is patient and gives me some good pointers. She is awesome at street contacts. I keep hoping that someday it will be a strength of mine so I keep practicing and praying to the Lord for help. She was going to BYU provo and majoring in Computer Science. She has 3 sisters all younger. She is from Maryland. Her spanish is really good. She has been out for over a year now and has had some great experiences. She ahs seen great miracles and is very positive about this area even on the hard days. 

We are working hard and trusting in the Lord. Because really that is all we have. I don't know who said it but it went something like this "work like it is up to you and pray like it is up to the Lord." Everyday I see more and more how much the Lord loves us. He wants to bless you. but the first law of heaven is obedience. He waits until He is able to bless you and then He blesses you as much as He possibly can. Stay close to our Father in Heaven. I love you.

Love, 

Hermana Dayna Petru

Miracle Week [Letter 27 - Nerja]

Dear Loved Ones,

WHAT AN AMAZING WEEK?!?!?! We worked really hard. and I am dying to tell you all about Dia de Diamante. We spent a lot of time planning a preparing. Tuesday we had a special district meeting to prepare. President Deere wanted us to focus on building our faith because it is only through faith that we see miracles. Well we planned, prayed, fasted, prayed and planned some more. Finally the day arrived. We got up and prepared for the day. Blasted a little MoTab and studied our favorite faith and missionary scriptures. (mine is 2 cor 32:7-8) and then we prayed and were our the door. We caught our bus and headed for Vélez. we had set a goal of 50 futures. This was definitely a goal of faith because we average about 20 futures in a WEEK. We did something that we call inspired contacting where we both pray separately indicating the time we will be contacting and where we will be. Then we pray together. After that pray one of us looks at a map and calls out names of streets that stick out to us and the other one writes them down. We pick about 10-20 depending on how much time we have. Then both of us look at our list and write down 5-10 names that stick out on the small list. Then one reads what she has and the ones that we have in common are the streets that we work in. we did that for every hour of the day. We saw miracle after miracle. Doors and windows that were opened by the Lord. One experience that really stood out was with a lady that didn't even accept us. we contacted her on a street corner. She listened as we told her about the happiness we share. She interrupted us and said ¨that is why I'm here. I need some happiness and luck for today so I came to pray 3 hail marys to the virgin.¨ then pointed out a giant statue thing in a window. Hermana Crowder then explained ¨ that is why we are here to answer your pray. The Lord sent us to answer your prayer.¨ "no i just need to finish my hail marys and then today we will be full of happiness but thank you." she then proceeded to finish her prayers and left. As I saw this unfold I wonder if I've ever been like that women. The Lord has sent me an answer to my prayer in a most unexpected way and I have brushed it aside. I was content to make mud pies when the Lord offered me a SKOR cake.

well I am happy to report that at the end of the day we had... *drum roll*  60 FUTURES oh yes we did. The Lord is Glorious. He works with his servants in the fields. we ran around all day. We even had an hour less time because of the bus but the Lord blessed us with people to touch and share His gospel with. It was an amazing day.

So the work is going very well. I'm doing very well also. Working hard. Thank you for all of your wonderful prayers. I know the Lord hears them and I am blessed everyday by your faith. Thank you. 

And of course I can't help but share something that I learned in personal study this week. (once a missionary always a missionary :D) I was studying Miracles. If you have time check out the Bible Dictionary on Miracles its very cool and I learned a ton. But something I would like to share. the Bible Dictionary says "Christianity is founded on the greatest of all miracles, the resurrection of our Lord. If that be admitted, other miracles cease to be improbable." As I began to study scriptures about the resurrection of the dead and think about what the resurrection means I began to understand this statement better. Here is what I came up with. First off in 2 Nephi 9 we are told that if there was not a resurrection we would become as the devil, fallen forever, never given the opportunity to progress. Fuerte I know but true. A resurrection is a requirement to obtain the Celestial Kingdom. Our Father in Heaven has a body. As I thought about this I realized that the greatest miracle of all time is OUR salvation and our opportunity to obtain exaltation. That is what the resurrection is. That is why as a church we don't celebrate the death of Christ like other Christian religions but the Glorious resurrection of our Lord and Savior. After this great break through in knowledge the hymn "I know that my Redeemer Lives" has new meaning and life to it. I hope as I share this experience in light and knowledge you too have them during your own personal study. The scriptures are our friends. Stay close to them because in them you will find our Savior.

I love you all. Be happy. Choose the Right. Come What May and Love it.

Love,
Hermana Petru

Hello! [Letter 26 - Nerja]

HOLA de Nerja!

Well its getting hotter. But its wonderful!! We are working really hard. We found 4 new investigators. They are all amazing. We pray they will read and pray. Most of them we will be seeing again on Wednesday.  Most of them live in Vélez-Málaga so it is hard to get there but it is defiantly worth it.  Every time we go to Vélez we see miracles. The place is ready for missionaries. It is like a fresh breath of air after working here in Nerja with all the tourists and the 20 natives that you have contacted at least 5 times.  We have been looking into actually moving the missionaries up there. The only problem is that the chapel is here in Nerja but if we are going to be working there anyway we can ride the bus with our investigators. One of our investigators actually has a friend that has a piso she is trying to rent. 


We were talking about starting English classes up there as well because no one really comes here. Work is going well. We have also been teaching a man from Portugal. he has a really good member friend that attends in Málaga so that is where he goes as well. But he is progressing. He knows that the Book of Mormon is true and everything. It is so great to see the light that begins to grow in people as they attain and nurture a testimony of their own. This is what I want to share today. The light of Christ that we have. The great light that shines in us as we grow in our testimony of Him and His doctrine. This grows as we study the scriptures, pray and attend our church meetings. This light also grows as we share what we know with others.  This opportunity to share my testimony has changed me in ways that I didn't know possible. I love my Savior more and more. I want to share this with everyone. I am just so grateful. My challenge to all of you is to share you love of the Savior with someone this week. It can be with a relative or a life long friend or an acquaintance. It doesn't matter but this I do know. Sharing your testimony with strengthen it and bring a new light into your life this week. I love you all. 


Oh and transfers are next Wednesday. So we will see.  With the new president anything is possible. OH and we actually get to meet President Deere on Thursday. They called for another Zone Conference. So we get to meet them and see all our friends!! 

Well, I love you all! Be safe. 

Hermana Petru