an instrument to the Lord

I cannot even believe it is already Christmas week. The Christmas season has flown by this year, but I have truly loved every second of it! And I cannot wait for all the fun things planned this week. We will be well taken care of here in Pampa:) We have 2 dinners Christmas eve and also breakfast, lunch, and dinner on Christmas day with so many of my favorite people! Plus, this is probably my favorite part of the entire thing...our investigator asked us to come over on Christmas and share a message with her entire family that she hasn't really talked to in 5 years! She came to church on Sunday and felt like she needed to work on her family relationships and felt like we should come and help with it! Christmas miracles are real. This gospel does so many wonderful things, but one of the best parts is it's ability to heal families through the Atoning sacrifice of our Savior, Jesus Christ. And we get to take a part of that on the day we celebrate His coming into the world! It is truly magical and I am so excited.

This week was so amazing too. We taught like 10 times the amount of lessons we were teaching at the beginning of the transfer. And we are finding such amazing people to teach! Including this one man named Scott. He was a former investigator that we met while out knocking. He is so excited to learn more, he ended up setting a baptismal date! That itself was a HUGE miracle...one of our sisters was asking questions about inviting people to be baptized, and it was exactly what we needed to study to really prepare Scott to accept the invitation. Tricia is still doing well. She is really progressing and is determined to get her answer! Just pray that she comes to church!! Also, our investigator that got out of jail and we found miraculously is now off the grid again, so that's sad, but our ward mission leader saw him yesterday still in Pampa, so I have faith that we will find him again! I seriously just love Pampa so much. We are so blessed, I am learning so much, and I am growing through the challenge of teaching these very faithful people. I love being an instrument to the Lord in bringing all His children to the fulness of the gospel and to the most happiness we can ever imagine! 

Yesterday, we were able to go to our mission Christmas party, which was so much fun! The entire party was wonderful! We had a talent show of funny stuff to start and I loved hanging out with so many of the missionaries that I love! After was a lunch and then we had a more spiritual talent show. Our mission is seriously so talented!! I loved it. And I decided that I really need to develop some perform-able talents. But that wasn't even the best part. At the end, we watched this old movie called It's A Wonderful Life. It felt really weird to watch a real movie...but President had such a wonderful purpose in showing that one. Basically, the movie is all about this man discovering how important and wonderful his life really is.  I loved what President Heap shared, so I wanted to share it with y'all! Our lives are truly wonderful. We so often think that what we are doing means nothing, but according to the world's view, the life of Jesus Christ wasn't much. Yet, His life influenced the life all of us individually and eternally. I cannot even imagine life without Him. And it is the same for all of us! Our lives are worth so much. And I know that life would be so much less wonderful without each of you!

I love you all and hope you have a very merry Christmas! Have a marvelous week and I am so pumped to talk with all the family this Friday!

Love y'all!

Hermana Peck

Happy days all the Christmas time days

First off, thank you for the fun packages to mom and dad. My companions, the sisters I go on exchanges with, and I are all really enjoying the entertainment and fun they provide. It makes Christmas so much more fun than it already is! Sister Wilkins and I had a ball making the ginger bread house..it was much uglier than the picture on the box...And before I forget, next p-day will be on Tuesday because of our mission Christmas party! We have a place to skype but no set time. I'll let you know next week what we planned. Are there any times that work best for y'all? It will most likely be morning or early afternoon.

Okay, so this week was amazing. I was just in constant awe about how wonderful every single day was. We asked for miracles and we got them! Monday night, we taught as many lessons as we had all last week! Tuesday Sister Carter and I were with Sister Lorrigan from Childress on exchanges in Pampa. We got to teach some new people and use the Christmas message from the church! Which is so fun to use. It truly opens so many hearts. The next day we had zone training in Amarillo and I actually instructed on the "A Savior is Born" initiative. Which, is you haven't watched it yet, watch it!! It teaches so much truth in such a short amount of time.

christmas.mormon.org

I had so much fun talking about it with the zone. I talked about the star that appeared when Christ was born and how it lead those who were seeking Him directly to Him. And then I went on to compare how this initiative is a star that God has given us to lead those who seek Christ to Him. It is truly so amazing to me!

After zone training I headed to Canyon with Sisters Jackson, Carter, and Perez! We had so much fun. They are in a trio too, so we did a weird 3 way exchange. Wednesday night I was with Sister Jackson. That was a weird night...we street contacted an old man and he kept almost falling over so he was using my shoulder as a way to keep from falling, but he was uncomfortably rubbing my back at the same time. And then, a less active girl from their ysa branch ran up and hugged me and kissed my neck when she met me. I felt a little weird by the end of that night...but hey, it makes for funny memories! We also got to eat at this delicious Texas bbq place called fat boys. And that's basically how I felt by the end of that meal. Thursday morning I was with baby Perez! It was so much fun to be with her again. And because I trained her to try anything that the spirit prompts her to, we decided to knock a sorority house right off of WTAMU campus. It wasn't a sorority house....it was a FRATERNITY HOUSE We were both not trying to bust up laughing the entire time. But it actually turned out really well!! We had them watch A Savior is Born and they loved it. The spirit was so strong as we talked about it. Only with Sister Perez would something like that happen...

As soon as Sister Carter and I got back from Canyon, we jumped right into a night of splits. I was so hectic and I was exhausted, but I was able to teach 2 lessons in Spanish with a few members of our ward that can speak Spanish. And I got homemade Mexican food out of it, which I am never opposed to. 

Also, 2 huge miracles of the week--2 of our former investigators got out of jail this week and now REALLY want to fix their lives. It's totally safe, so don't even worry. It was 100% led by the spirit how we ended up finding both of them this week and I am so excited about it! One of them even came to church yesterday! It just truly shows me how Heavenly Father will never stop trying to help us get back to Him. If you are ready, He will lead you back to Him!

Now finally, for the best part of the entire week! We had our ward temple day on Saturday and ti could have not been more perfect. We got there for the 9 am session and I learned so much. The temple is seriously one of the greatest blessings we have. There is so much we can receive and learn and feel there. I love it! Plus the sisters who are now serving in Carlsbad were there and I got to hear all about the work there and even see some of the members from Carlsbad. We went out for a bit before out ward baptism session and I ran into the Borger ward! I was able to see some of my favorite people and a ton of missionaries. It was like everyone was at the temple that day. Even President and Sister Heap were there! Then, we went to do baptisms with the ward. Megan was able to come! And a woman named Pam who we have been helping a ton to come back to church. It was both of their first times! Another man in our ward who had been less active for about 30 years just went back to the temple as well that day and came to do baptisms also to do the work for his mom, dad and grandpa. I was able to stand in place of his mom, and we were all in tears. The entire group had brought family names to do, and we were all in tears. I have never felt the spirit so strongly in the temple doing baptisms. And it grew my testimony of the power of family history and the blessing that come from it. This gospel is so amazing! And so true!

We are back to snow here in Pampa, I am hoping for a white Christmas!!! Have a wonderful week and an even more wonderful Christmas season! I can't wait to talk with all the family on Christmas day:) 

Hermana Peck

I get an extra week on my mission

This week was a really fun one!

First off, some news...so the MTC has made it so that missionaries who will serve in their native language will now spend 3 weeks in the MTC instead of 2 weeks like it has been done recently. Which means, missionaries will be coming into the field a week later than planned. This will effect our mission in the month of March, so my last transfer is now going to be 7 weeks instead of 6. So basically, I get an extra week on my mission. I AM PUMPED. I was so excited when Sister Heap and the Assistants let me know. So my new return date is March 30th, I'm pretty sure about that. I'm not too sure how that is all going to line up with Lindsey having a baby on April 2nd, but I'm sure we'll make it work! 

Annnyway, we had a much better week! We were seriously all over the place. Tuesday we had Zone Training in Borger, which is always the best! I think I did alright in my instruction. It kinda came out really harsh, whoops! Who knew ditsy me could throw down the hammer. But I ended it with love, so hopefully it was alright! Then I went straight from there up to Dalhart with Sister Moore for exchanges! That was such a fun exchange! I met sister Moore exactly a year ago when we were serving in neighboring towns in New Mexico. And it was so amazing to see how both of us had changed so much. We also got to go knocking on a bunch of mansions! That was intimidating, but we actually met some really cool people. Who knew there were millionaires in little Dalhart, TX of about 10,000 people...

When I got back to Pampa, we had plans to stop by really quick by an elderly woman who we do service for from our ward before going to an appointment. We walked up and she said, "hey sisters! I'm going visiting teaching, y'all comin'?" So, my lovely companions decided to send me with her on splits to do some visiting teaching while they went to the lesson. I was a little worried about it, with her being so old, but man that was one of the funnest hours of my mission! We went to visit a woman in the ward who is 92. I laughed the entire way through. They have the funniest and most amazing stories. And I learned so much. By the time my companions came back to get me, they were so jealous they had missed out!

I am loving celebrating the Christmas season here in Pampa. The lights are slowly being put up, and we even have a little (like really little) tree now! We were able to watch the Christmas devotional last night at our bishop's home with some recent converts and investigators. It was such a successful night! Elder Bednar's talk about the light at Christmas time was amazing. Christ truly is our light and our life. If you didn't get a chance to hear it, go look it up! It will change the way you look at Christmas! And speaking of, we have spent lots of time using the new Christmas initiative. It is such a wonderful and easy way to do missionary work. You can look it up at christmas.mormon.org.

I love you all and hope you have an amazing week and wonderful Christmas season!

Love,

Hermana Peck

TORNADO

I know y'all were all probably wondering about the tornado, because it seemed like everyone was asking about it. As you can see, we survived! The whole night was actually so fun. Kinda scary, but we were in the Jennings (our ward mission leader and his family) cellar and totally safe:) There were 11 of us in this tiny hole in the ground basically, but we were all singing and joking around and laughing. People in Pampa don't take tornadoes too seriously, because they are so used to them! From what I heard (since as missionaries we still don't really know all the details even though we lived through it) three touched down in Pampa, and there was some damage:( But we were blessed with a lot less than there could have been! The biggest one was a mile wide!!! But it all stayed on the east and south edges of town. I have just always wanted to be in a tornado on my mission. It's ridiculous, I know. But I was so pumped to experience it!

After the crazy of Monday night, things calmed down quiet a bit here in Pampa. More than we would have liked. It seemed like all of the solid people we were teaching just started slipping out of our fingers and we were left with few people to teach. It was definitely a trying week. Between stressed companions, doubting investigators, and empty days, I was about ready to just give up on trying. But it's in those moments that I remember my dear Savior. As He wept in Agony in Gethsemane and ached on Calvary, He never once gave up.  And because He never did, He overcame death, pain, sorrow, affliction, temptation; He overcame the world. With Christ, these trying weeks are able to make me stronger and turn me into the woman God sees me as. This Thanksgiving week, I am so grateful for that knowledge. I am grateful that it doesn't just apply to me, but every single person I meet. I am grateful that God sees us for who we can become instead of who we are. I am grateful that He gives us the way to become the people He sees us as. And most of all, I am grateful for my Savior who makes it all possible.

Things are already looking up here. Even on the hardest of days, I am loving every second and grateful for this sacred opportunity to serve the Lord.

I hope you all have a wonderful week! And a reeeeally Happy Thanksgiving!

Love, 

Hermana Peck

P.S. Mom, all I want is your apple crisp and homemade rolls...no one makes them like you

The pictures are of the tornado and the missionaries in the cellar!

Ready to work with us, share the gospel, do family history, attend the temple and strengthen her family

Transfer news!! NOTHING IS HAPPENING. Seriously, that was such a shock to all of us! But the trio of life will be staying in good ol' Pampa, TX through Christmas! I am so PUMPED! I wanted so badly to stay in Pampa for Thanksgiving and Christmas, and now I get to!! It is crazy to be with Sister Wilkins for 3 transfers, I normally just get one with all my companions! Plus we get to have Sister Carter with us too! Basically, our entire district stayed the same. But everyone else seems to have some crazy transfers. The best one? Sister Perez is coming up to be in Canyon, TX and I will get to see her all the time! I cannot wait. Such a blessing. Besides the ones who have gone home, i am surrounded by all my companions, past and present. This is going to be such a good transfer!

Now for the even better news, MEGAN WAS BAPTIZED THIS WEEK. It was such a sweet baptism. She was so ready and SO excited. I have never taught anyone so prepared. She and her husband cried the entire way through. And we even had several investigators and less actives attend the baptism. It was such a wonderful and successful night. The entire chapel was full of people and even more, full of the spirit! We are planning to go to the temple with her on the 12th of December! And she is on fire--so ready to work with us, share the gospel, do family history, attend the temple and strengthen her family to either return to or join the church. She truly is an example to me! It was just such a happy and glorious weekend!

A talk was given at her baptism that really hit. I wanted to share a thought from it that I loved. And I didn't write this down, so it may be a little off from what she shared, but the principle will be the same. So, there was a man who once decided to walk a tightrope across Niagara Falls from the American side to the Canadian side. That's about 375 yards long, if I can remember right from the story. Everyone thought he was crazy, but he said he could do it. He hopped up and made it all the way across! And then back again. Both sides of the falls had huge crowds cheering him on. He took it up a step and rode a unicycle across. Back and forth and back again. He truly was amazing! The people were cheering and so excited for his success. He then took a sack of potatoes with him, and made it again. He was doing the impossible. He then asked the crowds on both sides if there were any volunteers to go across with him. Silence. Although he proved himself many times that he could do the impossible, he had no volunteers to go with him. It is the save with our Savior. He did the impossible. He suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane, died on the cross, and rose again 3 days later. But so often, no one is willing to follow Him, even though He has proven that He can help us achieve the impossible as well. Living the gospel is never easy, but with Christ, it is possible, and it is glorious! I know with all my heart that this is true.

The work here in Pampa is doing amazing. I am so blessed to be out here in the Lord's vineyard, being an instrument in the hand of the Lord for bringing about the Salvation of His children. I love this gospel, I love this work, and I love my Savior, Jesus Christ. I hope you all can feel the blessings of His Atoning sacrifice every day in your lives, as we are promised we can feel.

I love you dearly and hope you have a wonderful week!

The work in Pampa is still going great!

Temple trip

Exchanges in Dalhart!

Sisters in the Amarillo Zone!

Good news of Dalhart, I made it there and back safely with no sprained ankle and no visit to the hospital! Thank goodness, that was traumatic last time.

Saturday we got to take a trip down to Lubbock and go to the temple!! That was the highlight of my week! The temple is such a wonderful blessing in my life and a great opportunity to be closer to the Lord than any other place. It truly is the Lord's house and in it, we can find so much peace.

The work here in Pampa is still going great! We didn't get to teach Olivia this week, but we did service for her and that went great! She is so happy and sweet. I love being able to share the gospel with her. Tricia is coming so close to receiving her answer about the Book of Mormon. We are seeing so much change in her, she is even already sharing the gospel with so many people! And also, Megan is getting baptized this Saturday! We are so excited for her. The service is going to be wonderful! And she has invited all her friends and family, so it is going to be a perfect opportunity to invite the spirit and share the gospel with so many that don't have it! She is truly amazing. We brought her and her husband to a lesson with us this week and it was so cool to listen to her testify of the gospel. She was introduced to the church 1 year ago, and the changes in her are miraculous! The gospel of Jesus Christ is meant for change and I am so grateful for that! If it were about perfection, we would never be happy, but Father loves us enough to allow us to change little by little, day by day, through His Son Jesus Christ, and feel happiness everyday! I love being a part of the Work of Salvation, and I love this Gospel even more!

Have a wonderful week! Love you all!

Hermana Peck

I want to be a Texan forever!

Compas

Can I just start off by saying, being a missionary is the best blessing my Heavenly Father could ever give to me! He loves each one of us so much, and as I go out everyday, I see the evidence of that even more. I had the sweetest experience as we were driving to Lubbock this weekend. It was pouring rain, I was stressed because we were running late for Sister Wilkins' doctor appointment in Lubbock, and the music that was playing was just a little too anxiety-enhancing, for lack of a better word. I asked Sister Carter to change it, and a soft arrangement of Called to serve came up. The rain stopped, and the sun popped out of the clouds just in time to light up the darkened, wet ground. The windmills of the Texas Panhandle were flying, and I could see my badge in the corner of my eye. My heart just filled with joy as I looked at the beautiful place I have been blessed to serve in, and the wonderful calling I have to teach this glorious gospel. My loving heavenly Father knew just the right thing to do and the right time to do it to calm me down and help me feel His love. It was so simple, but so sweet. Every day is filled with little moments like those that help remind me that He knows me, He knows my name, and He loves me. And I know He feels the same about all of you!

In addition to that, this week was FULL of happy moments! I got to go to Borger this week on exchanges! The area is a lot different now, but I was able to visit with Crystal, a member that I worked a ton with in Borger. I was so happy to see her and her daughter, Mariah. They are doing alright, but I know that day, the Lord was able to use me as a tool in answering a small part of their prayers. I love them both so much! It was just such a blessing to be back in a place that I love sooo much!

Side note about Borger...we were on bikes and on the drive over there, my bike pedal fell off. So I rode around all day with only one pedal. I have no idea how I made that happen, but it worked! Thank goodness!

Another side note before I get back to the miracles: we helped a member out in one of our outlying towns this week, and her boss treated us to a REAL Texas steakhouse for lunch....can I just say WOW. I want to be a Texan forever. I want to live in a tiny town, eat steak and cobbler, and drive in a truck everyday for the rest of my life!

But back to the goodness.  So we had our ward trunk or treat this week and the BIGGEST miracle happened. I was smiling ear to ear. I couldn't believe what happened! So, there is a lady named Olivia that we do service for every week at her work. We have been wanting to teach her, but the opportune moment just hadn't come up yet! So God just handed it to us! We were in the kitchen, judging the chili, because that was our job. And out of nowhere, Olivia walked into the church! She was all casual to see us, as if she knew that we would be there (we didn't even invite her). We were so pumped that she was there! but to add to it, our investigator Tricia then walked in to welcome her. TRICIA INVITED OLIVIA!!! They used to go to church together, and are super good friends. WHAT? We were so excited. Olivia met basically everyone in the ward and had such a good time. She even told everyone she would come to church. It was such a miracle of service, and we were so happy! She ended up not coming to church, which we were sad about...BUT she met with us last night and it was amazing. We taught her about the restoration of the church and she loved it! She was so excited to read the Book of Mormon, and she explained how she felt an excited feeling, pulling her in to learn more. I have never met someone like her and I feel so blessed to have this opportunity to teach her! We gave her a tour of the church after, and it was truly perfect! I wish I could go into all the details about that experience, because I was amazed the whole time. Such a blessing, and I am so excited for her!

Friday and Saturday we were gone all day. Friday we had Sister Wilkins MRI in Lubbock...pray for her to be healthy! It went well and we'll see the results sometime this week. That night, we went to an MLC at the mission home. WOW. It was about 20 missionaries, President and Sister Heap, and Elder and Sister Foster (who came for the mission tour). Simply put, that was amazing. And the next day the mission tour was just wonderful! I learned so much about grace. I think that has been kinda my theme lately. But it was amazing to be reminded by a general authority and my mission president that I don't have to be perfect, I just have to keep trying to be a little better everyday. My favorite part of the entire weekend was that he truly came to say that we are doing well, we can do better, but God loves us individually, and He's happy for the work we've done so far. Now it's just time to step it up, because we're ready! And I am pumped about it! It was fun to be in Lubbock and see so many missionaries that I love! I even got to visit with Sister Perez, and that was so happy! Man, it just never stops. This gospel is amazing!

Halloween was great! It was a chill night, but we had a good time painting pictures...and each others faces. Man, it is a wonderful life as a missionary!

I love you all! Have a great week!

Hermana Peck

Exchanges in Borger 

Mission Tour

She got her BOOTS!  No more cold toes I hope. 

Our ridiculous Halloween night