Hello everyone!!!

So this week was insane. We had pretty much everything fall through we had planned with people and we have had to make some hard decisions about whether or not we stop teaching someone. Amber still hasn't come to church and it's so frustrating for us because we know how much of a blessing it will be for them. It's been a month since we've been teaching them and so we are really trying to find out a way to really help them feel the impotence of faith in God and his will. 

But over all Ive learned a lot. God is good and is giving us new chances to find people every day. Sometimes the search for those who are ready feels endless. But I know that with faith and diligence the Lord puts people in our paths just like hermana barthlome said in her email if you get them. I truly know that god does prepare people. I love the mission. It had taught me so much. I feel God's love for every one of you. 

So funny story is that we are having a competition with some recent converts so they stop swearing! Haha each of us started out with 100 points and the one with the least amount of points looses and gets a pie smashed in their face! Haha I'm loosing with my companions. We are trying not to say dangit and shoot and dang and all those substitute swear words haha. Its been rough! 

Looks like I'm gonna get a pie In my face though hahaha.

I love you all and I'm so grateful for so you do for me and the support you give me! 

- sister petzinger 

Bashers are my favorite

Hey family and friends! Life in Cali is pretty nutso. So many weird and unusual things happened this week. Lately people have been so mean and grumpy. I got bashed about 4 times this week hard core. The moon is changing so maybe that why idk. But its all good! I want to share one experience with you that was very powerful for me. I was on exchanges with sister hoschouer. She's awesome. We went and did a lot of knocking around and in her area where no one listens because it's a very rich place. People do not talk to you. But one man opened the door and began to talk with us. Pretty soon he started bashing us really hard. He was quoting scriptures from the bible and all that stuff and telling us faith with works is false and we can get to heaven by faith alone. Then he brought up the book of Mormon and how it's impossible that it's God's word and on and on. We'll I had the book of Mormon closely held to my chest and I could feel a warmth building within, underneath where it pressed against me. The holy ghost told me to testify of the book of Mormon and it was so strong. So I did. I boldly testified of its divinity and truth and that I new it because ive  prayed about it. The spirit blasted through me from head to my toes. Then the guy told me I should question that and the holy ghost didn't tell me anything. The spirit blasted through me again and a felt a power that only a testimony of this gospel can give you. I felt the spirit work in my heart and testify to me that I knew. I then told the man that I had received an answer from god and I would not deny that. Then we left. It was a very powerful exerience. I have come to know that your testimony is your life line. It is what keeps us from sinking in this quicksand that the world makes so enticing. Here in Cali people are so unhappy. It's very sad. But it makes me so grateful I am here to bring them that happiness if they choose to accept it. We have a baptism hopefully coming up. Amber is scheduled to be baptized on Sep 29. And so is her son DJ who is 8 years old. He is so excited. We taught them the gospel of Jesus Christ and he ate it up. He felt the spirit and it was incredible to see the lightbulbs going off in his head as we asked him questions. Children are so in tune and it keeps me in check to make sure I am being humble and submissive to my father in heaven. I love this gospel. I love it's truth and the power it gives us. It's the only way we can truly find joy and prosperity in this ever worsening world. I love you all. Be happy in your work! 😊

- sister petzinger   

We live to die and die to live.

Good morning friends and family! This week was crazy! It's been very hot here in Anaheim and the fires are very intense. The beginning of this week some sisters in our zone got smoked out of their area. Ash was falling all over because the fires are so big and close. I got some in my eye haha. Our shirts were spotted black from the ash in the air. It was crazy. But a great conversation starter on the street! This week we did get our new sister! Her name is sister humphreys. I love her. She's originally called as ASL. So I'm picking some of that up and it's been really special. I can pray now in sign language! It's great. This week we found a lot of people to teach. It's been a blessing. Sister pressler and I have been working really hard and it's paying off. Sister humpherys is such a great addition to our companionship. She has helped a lot to further the work. We are teaching a family that we found a couple weeks ago. There's a mother and 2 boys. Amber, DJ, and Boston. They are adorable. Amber is 30 and a single mother looking for peace. As we have been talking with her she keeps telling us the warm feeling she has when we visit. She said "I feel like what you sisters are teaching me is filling a hole in my heart." She said that and I just felt a warmth in my soul. I know this gospel fills the holes in our souls. She has yet to come to church because of some weird things a work but we are praying hard she will be able to come and god will prepare a way for her. I know this gospel is true! I was reading a talk by pres Nelson in 2011. One line from that talk explains the gospel in one sentence. "It is true! We live to die and die to live!" How true that is. We live to die and death is our gate to live forever. Plan of salvation right there! Anyways I love you all. This gospel is true and I know that will all my heart. I love my savior and being his representative. I have a long way to go to being a better missionary but it's coming a long. The hardships of the mission are blessings and I love them. It's the strain that builds the muscle right? I know it's the same with missionary work. The harder it is the better you become and stronger your testimony.  God is so Good! I pray for you all! 

- Sister petzinger

Our new comp, we love her so much

Bit by a Bird

Hello everyone! I am so excited to email today! This last week was crazy! A lot of things happened! First we found a lady who's name is amber. She has two boys and lives in a small secluded house in the middle of old town Placentia. We found her house 3 weeks ago and she told us to come back. So we did and found her at home! She invited us in!!! That never happens here. So we were like super excited. She talked with us and the spirit was so strong. She really understood the restoration and we asked her what she was feeling as she talked with us. She said what we were saying was filling a hole in her heart. So we are still working with her. Our appointments fell through last Saturday and Sunday but we are hoping to see her soon and teach her more because she has the most potential we've seen anyone have so far. 

Then we went on exchanges with the hermanas! This is where my title comes in to play. We went to a hispanic family for dinner and they had a bird named polly. He was the meanest old man bird ever. He bit me like 5 times hahaha. I was laughing so hard even though it hurt. She also fed us whole fish with the head and everything. I ate the eyes and tongue so that's cool. 

Last week we got to have a special assignment assigned to us! Sister pressler and I will both be training a new sister coming Tomorrow! We will be a trio! Woohoo! It'll be fun. 

Well I love you all! This church is absolutely true. We should always be looking for this gospel to fill our hearts and mend the holes in our souls. The book of Mormon is truly the word of god. I love it so much. As I read from it my heart burns and I know what it says is true. This gospel is the best! I absolutely love being a missionary. It's the greatest feeling to be a representative of christ. Christ is our savior. He loves us all so much! Have a good week!

- sister petzinger Akaka 

Hey everyone again! So I missed a few things! We went to marrys kitchen!! It's a nice kitchen where they feed the homeless every day. We go and serve in the serving line. It was so fun!!! I loved it so much. So yeah! That was great! Very fulfilling. Love you all!

Week 3

Wow another week. It goes by fast when you're out in the heat doing the work! I love it here. We didn't get cathy to come to church on sunday. It was pretty sad but we will shoot for next week. Also there is a lady named renaye that we hope to keep seeing. She's super sweet and very open to the gospel. It's amazing. We found her knocking and I don't remember if I talked about her already. But we are hoping to meet with her again. This week was pretty slow. Not much happened but I got to go on exchanges and that was super fun! The weeks are starting to blend together so I can't remember what happened this week or last haha. We've done a lot of finding the last two weeks so my heels are blistered. I love it. I think it helps me feel like I'm doing something haha. On the last exchange last Saturday we visited a woman named nancy. Nancy is an  older African American woman. Sweetest gal ever. She has the sweetest accent. Anyways, Nancy was shot in the head 30 years ago. Right by her temple on the right side of her head. She survived and walked out of the hospital. She's a miracle. But the gun shot has had a toll on her memory. She has a hard time remembering the lessons but knows without a doubt Joe smith is a prophet and the book of Mormon is true! Haha she's so cute. It was very neet when we showed her the first vision. We introduced her to the new video. It was super powerful and the holy ghost testified to me once again of the truthfulness of the restoration. I know without a doubt this gospel is true. It has blessed my life and I can't thank God more for that. His son Jesus Christ suffered and crucified in my name as well as yours. He is our advocate. I love him dearly and I'm so grateful for him. My call as a missionary has taught me so much and it continues. I hope you all have a wonderful week. I love you guys! 

- Sister petzinger