Have you opened your door? 12.24.2018

Dear family!

Hello! Oh man how I love being a missionary! It's been hard but it's all so good. The last couple of weeks have been pretty insane. I've learned a lot about the savior. He is mindful of us in every way. I have imagined something the other day that hit home. We go out as missionaries knocking on people's doors all the time. We rarely get let in. And when we do it's so surprising that often we have a hard time getting ourselves together and speaking when we sit down to talk with people. Hahaha it's quite embarrassing sometimes. 

It's amazing to me that we can do this all day and all night, sometimes, all for not. Because there is a door of our own that we ourselves choose to stay behind. And who is on the other side? Our savior. Hes on the other side. He is there beckoning to us to open and let him in so he can sit down and teach you. Are we letting him in? Are we letting him teach us everyday? If not find yourself and open that door because he is the only way and I testify to you all that he is alive and he is the almighty king of the earth who is everlasting! I love him and I am here for him and him only. I hope you all have seen his hand in your life this Christmas season and I pray you will all help someone else see the light of this gospel. Dont be shy. Share your testimony and strength. We owe it to Him. The one who suffered and bled in a garden who was then taken to the hill of calvary to only be nailed cruelly to a cross. This is the One who loves you! This is the One who we testify of. We owe it to Him. 

This Christmas give him the greatest gift of yourself. Be his hands and mouth. Listen with his ears. Love him. 

I love you all and I hope this Christmas is a wonderful one! 

-sister petzinger 

1 new comps sis weight and sister Jensen

2 Christmas lights on the lake

3 6th month mark inscribed on my icecream cone

Testimony 12.17.2018

Dear friends and family. So sorry I didn't get an email out last Monday. Its been crazy! I just want to bare my testimony of the atonement that our savior jesus christ made for us. It's been a wonderful time this year to celebrate his life. I love him and I love this opportunity I have to be on my mission. I know that the atonement us meant for all. It reaches the very depths of our soul! I love him and know he lives:) I love you all! 

Light the World 12.3.2018

Talofa! (Tongan for hello) how are you all! This Christmas season is coming up! How wonderful it is that we can celebrate the coming of our savior to the earth! What a miracle He is. I love Him! This year I want to challenge you to light the world, your community, your neighborhood, and your faith. Find ways to serve and strengthen your relationships. Happiness lies in service to our Lord! As we serve others I promise that more happiness will enter into your life and wounds will heal. Our savior loves each and everyone of us! 

John ch 15-

"11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."

I know that because the savior gave his life we have eternal life. We are his friends! He loves us. This Christmas season think of Him. Become more like Him. He will light your faith:)

So news on kylee, she is being baptized on the 20th of January! Shes so excited! At church yesterday she was glowing head to toe. It's so amazing what happens to people when they commit to baptism. Such a strength comes over them. Transfers are in two weeks though so I don't know if I'll continue to teach her. We will see. Bob is doing well. He could not come to church because his daughter got sick and could not bring him. I love you all! 

-sister petzinger 

Decorating the Christmas tree for the ward party! 

The bobtism 11.26.2018

Hello my friends and family! What a good week it was last week! We had so many good things happen in our area. We taught kylee! I don't know if I've talked about her but she is so awesome. She asked us to pray about a date for her to be baptized and we have come up with the 15th of December! But we want it to be her decision overall so we will see tomorrow where shes is! Also we are teaching a lady named debby! She is so funny. She came to church yesterday and we think she had a good experience Haha. Not sure yet cause we haven't had a chance to talk with her. We took her on a church tour and normally shes very talkative and kinda loud but once we stepped into the church her whole demeanor changed. We walked around and talked about the pictures of jesus. It was very powerful. Then we entered the chapel. And immediately the spirit rushed over all of us. Debby looked up with her hand on her chest and breathed in really deep and said "wow it feels so good in here. I can breath again." It was so cool! We sat I  silence for a good 5 minutes and just let her feel the spirit. Then she looked at us with tears in her eyes and said "yeah I'm interested. I'll be at church on Sunday." I was so overjoyed. We have been trying to work with her for a long time. So that was really neat. Then on Saturday we had the  Bobtism! BOB WAS BAPTIZED!!! It was such a neat experience. There was 3 men in the faunt with him because he in very unstable by himself. The whole process was amazing to watch. After he got baptized he was the happiest I've seen him. There wasn't a dry eye in the room. Except for mine. I was just so happy! I was smiling so much my cheeks hurt! What a blessing it was to witness him choose the path of salvation. I sat in my chair and looked around and felt the peace of the Lord. I knew that his spirit was present and so were his angels. What a blessing. 

I want to thank all of you for your support and prayers! I definitely feel them out here. I've had so much peace in my heart this last week. I love you all and hope you have a great week. 

-sister petzinger 

1. Two elders who helped out with the baptism. The one on the left previously taught bob.

2. Tammy is Bob's daughter on the left who is also progressing and wants to be baptized.

3. Sister forsgren and I at a Thanksgiving service by the Angel's stadium in Santa ana. 

Out of the frying pan and into the fire 11.12.2018

Hello family! How are you all?? It's been an interesting week! I can't remember what happened really. A sister in our zone got really sick. I was fortunate enough to be aloud to help her a lot. She has anxiety just like me and I was able to help her through because I know what it feels like! Transfers are happening today and there are no changes going on for me or my companion! Good thing Haha cause we have a lot to do here! Bob is finally ready to he baptized! I'm so excited for him. He's been to church 2x now and he is such champ. He is in a lot of pain during the day and has a hard time breathing but her still comes to church. It's a testimony to me that anyone can go to church if Bob can. He is so committed to God it's insane. Also  we are teaching a lady named Lillian. Shes awesome! We were able to invite her to pray about our prophet. We showed her a picture of him and asked her to pray to know if he was a prophet ofGod. And she did. We went back to her house after a very strong push from the spirit to go. We had planned on seeing her the next day but we both had the feeling the go. We got there and she looked super surprised. We sat down and I asked "Lillian why did God lead us here." She looked at me and began to cry. She had a dream about the prophet and God told her that he was a true messenger. She didn't know what to think about it and she had been kinda worried and then we showed up at her door. It was such a neat experience. The spirit was so strong. I love you all so much! Have a good week! 

-sister petzinger 

11.5.2018

Hello everyone! So glad to send out another email this fine day! This last week was full of trial and miracles. I can't even begin to explain them. My heart has been so full the last couple of days. I am so grateful for my heavenly father! Bob and Tammy made it to church! It was so great! He's so awesome! Hes on 24 hour oxygen but he still came! It was so great to have him there. We also have found so many people in our area! It's an area that has a had a negative stigma that no one listens and no one gets baptized. BUT! We have seen so many miracles here and have taught so many people. Its a miracle. I feel so blessed. Bob and Tammy are on date to be baptized in December. I had Tammy crush her cigarettes the other day. Lol it was so great! She has to stay clean for 3 week and then she can be baptized. We are super excited. We are looking forward to the last week of the transfer! It's gonna be a good! I love you all! This gospel is true. Our heavenly father is there. He loves us and he sent us here. 

- sister Petzinger

Screaming toilets and exchanges 10.22.2018

So this week was full of miracles! We are so blessed. The first person on my mission came to church! Yay!! It was great:) many things have happened this week that are just so great. So one thing about are apartment is that there are spiders and our toilet screams all day and all night. It's really annoying. But it adds to the fun I guess hahaha. And exchanges were so weird this week. We all got sick or something scary happened in each of our areas. What a weird day. But all is well:) the Gospel is true my friends and family. We all are part of God's plan. He wants us back! 

- Sister Petzinger