The Last Email from Dad! Week 72 in Thailand.

My dear, wonderful, sweet, incredible Daughter:

 

This is it!  You are now facing one of the hardest tasks you will have to ever face in your life.  You have given your TIME, your FAITH, your LOVE, your EVERYTHING to the people and land of Thailand.  You love the people and country with every cell in your body.  You ache when you think about moving on to a different life.  You have and you will cry.  A lot of people will cry.  For you, with you!  Me included.

 

I remember when the plane took off from the Auckland, New Zealand airport.  It was night and they dimmed the cabin lights for take off.  I buried my head in the window, yearning for one last look of the country I loved.  I cried some real hard tears…I was not as driven as you.  I couldn’t see myself going back to visit because it cost so much.  I can now.

 

You.  YOU!  You are another story.  You are one of the most amazing young women I know.  You are so driven, so focused.  You are caring and nurturing.  You have some incredible goals for your life and I know you will achieve them.  You have in the past and you will in the future.

 

I am SO Proud to call you my daughter.  I AM SO PROUD that I was able to choose you for an incredible daughter.  I have made some choices in my life that I wish I could re-do, but let me tell you something, you are not on that list.  YOU are the best choice I have ever made.  The second and third best choices I have ever made were making sure I had two beautiful daughters and a handsome brother/son.  Evan, couldn’t do much about him!  LOL

I am sure all parents are proud of their children.  We need to say it more often!  We need to shout it to them every month, week, day, second!  Knowing that someone is on your side, has your back, loves you unconditionally is a wonderful thing.  I do love you!

 

I love YOU Elizabeth.  I am so proud of you.  You have taken things into your own control and are making them yours.  Amazing.

Logan:  I am proud of you!  You don’t hear it…but I am.  You are such a smart, loving, caring guy!  I want all the world has to give, just for you!

Evan:  You still have so much to show us.  You will accomplish everything you set your heart to!  Love you. 

So Marina, this will be the last email I will send to you in Thailand.  See you on Friday!  FRIDAY can you believe it!?!

Love Dad.

Week 71 in Thailand, 22 Feb 2015

Well this week went faster than the last but we saw even more miracles.  Our investigators Den and Eek accepted baptismal dates which was so exciting!

Other that that, the biggest news is that we had two big rainstorms this week which came out of nowhere.  Rain storm in Thailand means, like a 30 min downpour / monsoon which like floods the town. "-) 

On Saturday, we had just finished cleaning the church grounds from such a flood earlier in the week, taught some lessons, and were heading out to do some contacting before going home. Sister Witawee and I biked to a night market, locked our bikes together, and it started sprinkling.  We decided to bag contacting and just grab food and go home and make phone calls. 

 

Before we could get food, the monsoon came and we could barely see to get to our bikes.  We had nothing in the form of an umbrella, which the wind would have destroyed anyways.  So we were instantly soaked. 

 

As the street started filling up with water, my companion got out her key to unlock the bikes and as she put the key in the hole, it broke in half.  LOL  We waded through the now flooded street with our attached bikes and took shelter at a school for a few hours until the rain stopped and a member could come help us with the lock...

I'm going to miss Thailand.

 

Love, Sister Marina A. Peterson.

Week 70 in Thailand, 15 Feb 2015

We just spent the email time finalizing our visit to Thailand.  All set!

Week 69 in Thailand, 08 Feb 2015

A picture is worth a thousand words...or a lazy Missionary not wanting to write her blog?

Week 68 in Thailand, 01 Feb 2015

This week will have to be summed up in pictures, but the highlight was definitely going to Roi Et for Zone Training and preparing a play for Book of Mormon class. 

This week we were studying in Mosiah about Abinidai and King Noah.  Also we got a new sister at the end of the week so...dum dum dum duuuum............... I'm living in a Khon Thai house!   Whooo.  My language skills are going to sky rocket!!!! 

 

FYI   Khon Thai house means: everyone but me are Native Thais.

Hope you all have a good week and find joy in the journey!

 

25 Jan 2015 Email w/Dad

Dale Peterson peterson.dale.a@gmail.com

Sun, Jan 25, 2015 at 9:13 PM

To: Marina Peterson marina.peterson@myldsmail.net

 

I had a visitor.  Sister Stevenson!  I was busy and couldn't talk much but what a surprise.

I then just finished talking to her tonight on the phone.  She is excited for you to come home.  Excited for me to go get you.

 

Marina Peterson marina.peterson@myldsmail.net

Sun, Jan 25, 2015 at 10:59 PM

 To: Dale Peterson <peterson.dale.a@gmail.com>

 

Yeah she sent me a picture! I was so excited and seeing the store made me a little home sick but ... not too much :)  You look really good Dad

To: Megan Peterson

High heels will probably only work at Church, but they are necessary!   :-)

Week 67 in Thailand, 25 Jan 2015

This week I got the best news of my life, (that’s an exaggeration).  ว่า   I’m finishing my mission in

MahaSarakam!!!  With Sister Wittawee!!!!   We are both excited to take this transfer by storm and work work work. 

 

 

This week is the 150th Anniversary of the township of Mahasarakam.  Right now there is a big market blocking off two of the three main roads and every night there are some sort of concert going on, which you can hear very clearly from our house.  LOL  It makes sleeping harder for about five minutes until exhaustion seals the deal.  LOL  It is mostly fun to have a constant soundtrack of  Lam and Isan music with you.  :)  The markets been good for inviting also!

Our investigator Nai got confirmed this Sunday and we had a new investigator at church too.  It was a pretty good week work wise.  I can't believe Sister Wittawee is already on week 4 of training already.  It is hard to believe.  She amazes me everyday with how sincere and powerfully she teaches.  I feel like I've never felt the spirit more.  A lot of our lessons this week were about the family history work and helping all our RC's get started, makes me really excited to get home and work on mine some more.  I really miss the temple...like, a lot.  Being on a mission in Thailand has made me appreciate the temple that much more.  Can't wait for the day Thailand gets its own temple.  I will be here to celebrate with the members when that happens.

Funny story of the week:  We had a mouse in the house, which I discovered as I went to open the cupboard and it leaped out at me!  I screamed a seriously genuine scream of sheer terror and probably freaked out my companion...a lot.  The mouse then scurried under the sink, which is more like a vanity.  We immediately went to the “oh so big market” and bought a mouse trap (which by the way, was my word of the day).  Still no trapped mouse!  I'm thinking it scurried out the window or something because we've since done extensive cleaning and no trace of mouse. I almost made it my whole mission with out seeing a mouse in the house...almost.  LOL  Definitely had my share of street rats though.  Ewww!

Anyways, I hope you have good, mouse free week and I love you all!

Sister Marina A. Peterson

 

Week 66 in Thailand, Jan 18, 2015

This week our investigator Nai got baptized.  We've been teaching him for a few months and this was, maybe the most exciting day of the transfer!  My companion and I have been working really hard and have faced some disappointments also.  This transfer, we've both felt God pouring the blessings upon us.  In His own ways and on His own time!

This transfer has been the best opportunity to align our will with Heavenly Father's and find joy in serving and teaching. I can't believe it's the last week of the transfers already and I'm heading on transfer “sud thai” (the last).  Being a missionary goes by way too fast and I'm determined to make this the best transfer yet!  So everyone keep praying for me!! 

Love Sister Marina A. Peterson

 

Email to me, asking about her new companion:  She actually sooo cute!!!!  We have a lot of fun.  The work has its ups and downs but our investigator Nai got baptized yesterday, which was really exciting for us and the branch.  We've been teaching him since we got to Mahasarakam.  I actually love being a missionary sooo much.

Week 65 in Thailand, 11 Jan 2015

Well, were going tiawing today so I don't have email time but I LOVE you and see you next week! 

 

Week 64 in Thailand. A NEW YEAR

This week we rang in the New Year with a bang! 

Day one:  I got a new companion, fresh from the MTC Philippines.  Her name is Sister Wittawee and she is from Bangkapi.  I was sooo excited to learn that I would be training her!!!  Pretty sure I prayed for that, like for a month straight, back when I was leaving Bangkapi.  Even though I forgot about my request, Heavenly Father didn't and here we are, five months later!

The rest of our week went a lot like this:  Invite, teach, eat, sleep, repeat.  By Sunday, we were exhausted, but as always, Sunday is when the Lord pours our his blessings the most.  We had a baptism for our investigator Garfield.  Garfield is the younger sister to Sister Nanne, so it was a really exciting day.  Sister Nanne was the speaker at the baptism, so on Saturday, we helped her write her first talk and then practice giving it, so she wouldn't be nervous. It was the most rewarding day of the transfer so far.   Never be afraid to pray for blessing!!!! 

Well I hope that you all had a wonderful New Year's Day and I'm sending out a bunch of letters today so keep your eye out!

All my love, Sister Marina A. Peterson  

 

 

Week 63 in Thailand 31 Dec 2014

I hope everyone is having a great New Year and that your Christmas was fantastic!  I love you all!