Dear Family,
I don't know if you knew this, but I turned 20 last saturday. Happy birthday to me. I feel the same only I got to open the goodies mom sent with me. It was candy from halloween, which surprisingly still tasted ok, and a cd player and MoTab. Thanks mom! too bad we can't listen to music at the MTC. I guess it will have to stay in packaging until I get to Cape Verde.
Grant got home and has already written me more dear elders and letters than everyone but merilee and neal. and mom. Christian you bum, write me.
Also, there will be $94 charge on my bank account mother, it's from a few shots that I got here. Namely Polio (i guess it's a big problem over there so I had to get a booster) and Hep A part 2. So don't worry about it.
My companion, Elder Teilor, left for Canada Tuesday at 5:00 AM, so I have been assigned to another companionship in a trio. It's been a wierd transition and I was sad to see my first companion go after 4 weeks, but I'm getting the hang of it. He left early because his parents are Brazilian and he understands all Portuguese. He only had a little problem with speaking because he would usually talk to his family in enlglish even though they spoke Portuguese. Hopefully he's doing great work bringing the people of Toronto to the gospel.
The language is coming. Next week we go to all Portuguese. That means that our teachers will no longer speak english in any of the lessons. Both gospel and Portuguese lessons will be in Portuguese. Trial by fire here we come.
Food at the MTC sometimes is as ambigiuous as the things mom cooks. I've gained like 5 lbs so far. I don't plan on putting on much more. I am eating as healthy as I am in the mood for. which means that in the mornings I eat fruit and oatmeal with milk of the white and chocolate varieties. Lunch and dinner always have fruits or vegetables with them, and the entrees for the most part aren't that unhealthy. Unless you go to the combo line which is always the most unhealthy choice. The first few weeks I went to that line. I've been not going to that line recently. I'm sure that has something to do with my decrease in gaseous emisions.
Sarah- Thanks for more pictures of Cylon baby. Thanks for the stickers. I will put them to good use. Thanks for writing. you are awesome.
Cookie- Thanks for writing. I hope you get those pictures to me soon. Thanks for the camera, I will put it to VERY good use. I don't know if I can send pictures from here though, so i'll probably just print them off and send them in snail mail.
Jim- I'm Utah, managed to escape getting stuck in Branson. Glad you found Grant. He's been gone for quite a while. Yes you can have my pie.
Christian- Write me yo.
Mom- Glad you could get some work done. Thanks for the birthday goodies.
Neal- Thanks for writing. The pictures of Sally were awesome. I love getting pictures of my way cute niece. I'm glad to hear she still remembers me and talks about me. I hope that keeps up while I'm gone and that none of her other uncles will take my spot as favorite. Fat chance. Don't work too hard. The less you work the more you can write me. *wink wink* *nudge nudge*
Merilee- thanks for sending me your blog. You live such an interesting life. And if that isn't the case, you certainly tell it in such a way to make it seem so. Keep it up. I did hear about your great fall. That sounds painful and I hope you are doing better. Try to keep your cougar-esk tendencies at bay. Keep rocking the Miley since I can't. How's the mission stuff coming? Papers submitted and all that jazz? waiting on the call? exciting.
Thank you everyone for writing me! Merry Christmas! Don't have too much fun without me.
~Elder Canute Peterson
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Elder Canute draws lots of pictures-
However, I don't believe we have a scanner, so that's just not happening. Here's a poem EC did for you: Eu quero servir a Deus. Eu preciso estudar Portuguese. Eu vou fazer metas boas. Eu gosto de ler as Escrituras. Eu tenho que confiar em Deus. Eu Posso aprender o Evangelho e Portuguese. Eu Gosteria de Durmir.
So if you can grab anything from that, please do. Note: I'm thankful for P-Day. I'll be thankful when Fast Thanksgiving meeting is over. There's a cool picture of Golum, Indiana Jones, and Darth Vader. Commentary says: Precious. This outa go to a museum and I find your lack of faith disturbing.
Dear Family,
Tudo bem? Merilee: have you just been rocking the kitchen? Christian tells me you are still listening to Miley Cyrus music. I don't get to listen to music.
Christian: Do what I told you in the email. Also, if you could find the pedigree chart on Grant's computer that would be great. It's on the C: drive, codenamed Hyperdrive. The folder is called the...Find it, change Grant's name to mine and send it please. Also, stay classy.
Dad: God your email, sent a reply. That just got me thinking about my taxes. I was wondering if you could do them or have done them for me, because I would not be able to. And because I have earned a lot of money this year through Moxie and the apartments, that will be important to be done. Just keep that in mind please. Also, it's interesting that your parents once owned part of the land where the missionary field is today.
Mom: Because I only have 30 minutes for email and I only get emails from anybody, I barely have time to read and write them, much less have a 'chat.' Try back in a month and a half or so. Also, is Josh staying with Aunt Amy and Uncle Graydon till the end of the year?
Also, there are some teachers here who went to Cape Verde and one of the Elders in my district has a book about it. It sounds very...interesting. I'm excited though. It can seem a little discouraging when I hear that Creole is only related to Portuguese and that every island has its own dialect, especially when I'm struggling to understand Portuguese, but the Lord qualifies who He calls.
Here at the MTC we are supposed to wear our suit coats every day. When you only have one suit coat, it gets a lot of wear. And dirt. The other Elders in my district going to Cape Verde have the same problem.
It's getting really cold here in Provo. I can't wait to get to Cape Verde where it will be warm all the time. I'm really glad I took Uncle Ron's advice and brought a jacket. I think I'm going to start layering a sweater and suit coat. I really didn't pack for winter. Anyways, please write. There's an Elder in my district that gets a stack of letters every day. I don't need a stack, but I would appreciate more than a letter every 2 weeks.
Tchau! Elder Canute Peterson
P.S. Ignore the spelling and grammar mistakes. You know, if you can, considering my marks.
P.P.S. Christian, if you could forward my mailing address that would be awesome. Just tell him you're my bro and give him my address.
P.P.P.S. Send me some ugly and crazy ties.
So if you can grab anything from that, please do. Note: I'm thankful for P-Day. I'll be thankful when Fast Thanksgiving meeting is over. There's a cool picture of Golum, Indiana Jones, and Darth Vader. Commentary says: Precious. This outa go to a museum and I find your lack of faith disturbing.
Dear Family,
Tudo bem? Merilee: have you just been rocking the kitchen? Christian tells me you are still listening to Miley Cyrus music. I don't get to listen to music.
Christian: Do what I told you in the email. Also, if you could find the pedigree chart on Grant's computer that would be great. It's on the C: drive, codenamed Hyperdrive. The folder is called the...Find it, change Grant's name to mine and send it please. Also, stay classy.
Dad: God your email, sent a reply. That just got me thinking about my taxes. I was wondering if you could do them or have done them for me, because I would not be able to. And because I have earned a lot of money this year through Moxie and the apartments, that will be important to be done. Just keep that in mind please. Also, it's interesting that your parents once owned part of the land where the missionary field is today.
Mom: Because I only have 30 minutes for email and I only get emails from anybody, I barely have time to read and write them, much less have a 'chat.' Try back in a month and a half or so. Also, is Josh staying with Aunt Amy and Uncle Graydon till the end of the year?
Also, there are some teachers here who went to Cape Verde and one of the Elders in my district has a book about it. It sounds very...interesting. I'm excited though. It can seem a little discouraging when I hear that Creole is only related to Portuguese and that every island has its own dialect, especially when I'm struggling to understand Portuguese, but the Lord qualifies who He calls.
Here at the MTC we are supposed to wear our suit coats every day. When you only have one suit coat, it gets a lot of wear. And dirt. The other Elders in my district going to Cape Verde have the same problem.
It's getting really cold here in Provo. I can't wait to get to Cape Verde where it will be warm all the time. I'm really glad I took Uncle Ron's advice and brought a jacket. I think I'm going to start layering a sweater and suit coat. I really didn't pack for winter. Anyways, please write. There's an Elder in my district that gets a stack of letters every day. I don't need a stack, but I would appreciate more than a letter every 2 weeks.
Tchau! Elder Canute Peterson
P.S. Ignore the spelling and grammar mistakes. You know, if you can, considering my marks.
P.P.S. Christian, if you could forward my mailing address that would be awesome. Just tell him you're my bro and give him my address.
P.P.P.S. Send me some ugly and crazy ties.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Week 2 and going strong
Dear Family,
First of all, thank you to those of you who wrote me. Thank you to Grant for sending my one and only Dear Elder/paper letter, and although you won't get this email, hopefully you will read it on my blog, thank you Karalee for the cookies. BTW you never gave me a return address so I could write an official thank you letter.
My mailing address, if you don't have it already is:
Elder Canute Russell Peterson
MTC Mailbox #170
CAP-VDP 0119
2005 N.900 E.
Provo, Utah 84604-1793
My estimated departure date is January 19, 2010.
Also, could I have my line of priesthood authority emailed/mailed to me? I know Neal has it because he has emailed it to me before. Also, I forgot to bring a pedrigee chart with me. Grant has one on his computer so if Christian could find that for me, change Grant's name to mine on the chart and send it that would be awesome.
Mom- The Scripture I want to use is Alma 29:9.
Merilee- I have my driving record already. Remember? That's what we did Monday. Also, believe it or not I haven't even thought about computers or computer games for more than a minute at a time and as far as I can think never more than once a day if that. It really is just all about losing yourself in the work.
As far as last Tuesday, I just flew out here, had Dinner with Layne, Brandon, Brooke, and Brenna, got to Matt's apartment and met with/called people till bed time.
Time moves weirdly here at the MTC so I don't know what I have or haven't already told you in emails or letters. I have seen Elder Eric Arnett here and I got some pictures with him. He gave me copies and I will be sending them home with a letter. On Tuesday we got to listen to Elder Dallin H. Oaks. That was awesome.
Thanksgiving was good. We had dinner for lunch and had sack lunches for dinner. That was fine. It was actually a welcome change of pace. We had Elder Jeffery R. Holland speak in the morning which was cool. He answered some questions that Elders had sent in. It was neat. He was a lot more laid back and relaxed than I've ever seen him. Probably because I've only ever seen him in General Conference.
I was able to play soccer the other day on the Missionary Field which was really fun. Most days I have gym in the morning when it's too cold and dark to go to the field, but it was a nice warm day on wednesday. woot.
Anyways, thanks for all the emails and such. Keep me posted. My time is running short. We only get 30 minutes here instead of an hour. Put your faith in the Lord and you will not be led astray.
~Elder Canute Russell Peterson
First of all, thank you to those of you who wrote me. Thank you to Grant for sending my one and only Dear Elder/paper letter, and although you won't get this email, hopefully you will read it on my blog, thank you Karalee for the cookies. BTW you never gave me a return address so I could write an official thank you letter.
My mailing address, if you don't have it already is:
Elder Canute Russell Peterson
MTC Mailbox #170
CAP-VDP 0119
2005 N.900 E.
Provo, Utah 84604-1793
My estimated departure date is January 19, 2010.
Also, could I have my line of priesthood authority emailed/mailed to me? I know Neal has it because he has emailed it to me before. Also, I forgot to bring a pedrigee chart with me. Grant has one on his computer so if Christian could find that for me, change Grant's name to mine on the chart and send it that would be awesome.
Mom- The Scripture I want to use is Alma 29:9.
Merilee- I have my driving record already. Remember? That's what we did Monday. Also, believe it or not I haven't even thought about computers or computer games for more than a minute at a time and as far as I can think never more than once a day if that. It really is just all about losing yourself in the work.
As far as last Tuesday, I just flew out here, had Dinner with Layne, Brandon, Brooke, and Brenna, got to Matt's apartment and met with/called people till bed time.
Time moves weirdly here at the MTC so I don't know what I have or haven't already told you in emails or letters. I have seen Elder Eric Arnett here and I got some pictures with him. He gave me copies and I will be sending them home with a letter. On Tuesday we got to listen to Elder Dallin H. Oaks. That was awesome.
Thanksgiving was good. We had dinner for lunch and had sack lunches for dinner. That was fine. It was actually a welcome change of pace. We had Elder Jeffery R. Holland speak in the morning which was cool. He answered some questions that Elders had sent in. It was neat. He was a lot more laid back and relaxed than I've ever seen him. Probably because I've only ever seen him in General Conference.
I was able to play soccer the other day on the Missionary Field which was really fun. Most days I have gym in the morning when it's too cold and dark to go to the field, but it was a nice warm day on wednesday. woot.
Anyways, thanks for all the emails and such. Keep me posted. My time is running short. We only get 30 minutes here instead of an hour. Put your faith in the Lord and you will not be led astray.
~Elder Canute Russell Peterson
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
11/20/09 and 11/21/09
Dear Family-
I know it hasn't been that long since I got here or even since I've written but time is weird here.The phrase I heard that fits perfectly is "The days go by like weeks and the weeks go by like days." I haven't been here for that long but it seems like it's been forever.
The days here are super packed. The food is doing strange things to me. Think me on my worst days for farting. It's pretty bad, but I think I'm adjusting. Portuguese is coming along. We've already learned basic prayer and testimonies. I really look forward to language studies.
Each week every Elder in our branch is supposed to prepare a five minute talk in Portuguese. On Sunday they will randomly ask two elders to speak. That has me a little worried. Mostly because I don't have a whole lot of time to prepare. I'm sure I will have more time in the following weeks, but it seems like every waking moment has something planned.
Being District Leader takes away a good chunk of time as well. I have I think three extra meetings due to this. I only hope the Lord will prove me equal to my call.
My District is really strong though. We have two elders who are already mostly fluent in Brazilian Portuguese, my companion being one, two elders fluent in Spanish and the rest of us have had at least a year or two in another language.
It's interesting to me me because since I've started learning Portuguese, my German has come back in force. It's not perfect, but I sometimes find myself thinking and praying in German. I hope it doesn't get mixed up and confuse me.
Anyways, today is the first unofficial P-day. Unofficial because we had class this morning and the schedule is all whack. MAKE SURE TO UPDATE MY BLOG. You should post on there to send me letters through Dearelder.com. It's free while I'm in the MTC. Also, post my address on my blog. You guys rock! - Elder Canute Peterson
Dear Family-
Man, the MTC is great! I'm so excited to learn more about the gospel and Portuguese! My companion is Elder Teilor. He's from Orem but his parents are from Brazil, so he's pretty close to fluent in Brazilian Portuguese. That will definitely be a blessing in my education.
I was called as the District Leader for my district. Let me just tell you this, anyone who aspires to a calling is nuts. I know the Lord will qualify those He calls but that doesn't stop me from being crazy nervous.
Anyway, I just wanted to let you know I arrived safely. Matt Hendrickson should be sending my phone home. Give my love to the siblings who are abroad. Sincerely, Elder Canute Peterson
P.S. My return address is my MTC mailing address
P.P.S. DearElder.com is free while I'm in the MTC
I know it hasn't been that long since I got here or even since I've written but time is weird here.The phrase I heard that fits perfectly is "The days go by like weeks and the weeks go by like days." I haven't been here for that long but it seems like it's been forever.
The days here are super packed. The food is doing strange things to me. Think me on my worst days for farting. It's pretty bad, but I think I'm adjusting. Portuguese is coming along. We've already learned basic prayer and testimonies. I really look forward to language studies.
Each week every Elder in our branch is supposed to prepare a five minute talk in Portuguese. On Sunday they will randomly ask two elders to speak. That has me a little worried. Mostly because I don't have a whole lot of time to prepare. I'm sure I will have more time in the following weeks, but it seems like every waking moment has something planned.
Being District Leader takes away a good chunk of time as well. I have I think three extra meetings due to this. I only hope the Lord will prove me equal to my call.
My District is really strong though. We have two elders who are already mostly fluent in Brazilian Portuguese, my companion being one, two elders fluent in Spanish and the rest of us have had at least a year or two in another language.
It's interesting to me me because since I've started learning Portuguese, my German has come back in force. It's not perfect, but I sometimes find myself thinking and praying in German. I hope it doesn't get mixed up and confuse me.
Anyways, today is the first unofficial P-day. Unofficial because we had class this morning and the schedule is all whack. MAKE SURE TO UPDATE MY BLOG. You should post on there to send me letters through Dearelder.com. It's free while I'm in the MTC. Also, post my address on my blog. You guys rock! - Elder Canute Peterson
Dear Family-
Man, the MTC is great! I'm so excited to learn more about the gospel and Portuguese! My companion is Elder Teilor. He's from Orem but his parents are from Brazil, so he's pretty close to fluent in Brazilian Portuguese. That will definitely be a blessing in my education.
I was called as the District Leader for my district. Let me just tell you this, anyone who aspires to a calling is nuts. I know the Lord will qualify those He calls but that doesn't stop me from being crazy nervous.
Anyway, I just wanted to let you know I arrived safely. Matt Hendrickson should be sending my phone home. Give my love to the siblings who are abroad. Sincerely, Elder Canute Peterson
P.S. My return address is my MTC mailing address
P.P.S. DearElder.com is free while I'm in the MTC
Sunday, November 22, 2009
First MTC week-
Dear Family,
The first week here has been pretty crazy. The food is good and plentiful, but it's doing some not so nice things to my digestive system. Despite the quite varied dishes served each meal, my body is reacting as though all I eat are tacos and burritos. I am told that I will adjust.
I forgot to bring my address to the computer lab so you will have to wait for a real letter to arrive to get it. Either that or wait until next week's email. I also forgot my list of family emails so there are a few that won't get this email such as america, cookie, neal, sarah, bonnie, and josh. And maybe a few others depending on how accurate my memory of your emails is.
So far it has been very busy. I feel like every waking moment has something planned for me. I don't have enough time to do all the things that I want/need to accomplish. I think part of it is due to the nature of the first week. This being that they schedule a lot more for you in the way of meetings and orientations than normal. I also won't be able to attend the temple this week which is a bummer but I plan on taking every future opportunity to go as there is not a temple in my mission.
They split the companionships into senior and Junior companion. They chose Senior companions arbitrarily and we'll be switching roles in 4 weeks. The reason for this is so that we can have a tree of leadership. I am the senior companion as well as our District Leader. That is a lot to take on your first 3 days. I feel like I haven't had time to really learn my calling, but there will be training sessions and time to adjust in the future I suppose. My sunday is jam packed with meetings though.
My district is really cool though. My companion is Elder Teilor. His parents are from Brazil so he's pretty fluent in Brazilian Portuguese, but there are many differences so sometimes he is learning just as much as I am.
Another Elder in my mission, Elder Braithwaite, is also fairly fluent in Brazilian Portuguese becauase he lived there for a few years. Elders Nunez and Del Aguila are fluent in Spanish. The others in my district Elders Bretzing, Brown, and Paulsen all took a year or two of spanish in high school, so we have a pretty good background for the language. Es ist schade das ich vier jahren Deutsch gesprochen hätte.
It is interesting how much of my German has come back since I got to the MTC. I was able to speak a little with some of the German speaking missionaries, but not much. I just hope my German and Portuguese don't start mixing, as that would be a bit of a problem.
Anyways, this is probably going to be the longest email I send, depending on how many emails I begin to recieve. The more emails I get, the shorter my emails will be. But that doesn't mean I will still write long emails if you don't write, so write me. or else. Oh, and post this email and my email address on my blog. I gave you the information so you have no excuse not to.
Center your lives on Christ. Follow his example. Love your neighbors as yourself and serve them as Jesus would. I know that as you seek to follow the words of the prophets, you will be blessed.
Elder Canute Peterson
p.s. It's kind of cool to preface my name with elder.
p.p.s. When you address anyone merely as 'Elder,' everyone else checks to see if you mean them. and that's hilarious.
The first week here has been pretty crazy. The food is good and plentiful, but it's doing some not so nice things to my digestive system. Despite the quite varied dishes served each meal, my body is reacting as though all I eat are tacos and burritos. I am told that I will adjust.
I forgot to bring my address to the computer lab so you will have to wait for a real letter to arrive to get it. Either that or wait until next week's email. I also forgot my list of family emails so there are a few that won't get this email such as america, cookie, neal, sarah, bonnie, and josh. And maybe a few others depending on how accurate my memory of your emails is.
So far it has been very busy. I feel like every waking moment has something planned for me. I don't have enough time to do all the things that I want/need to accomplish. I think part of it is due to the nature of the first week. This being that they schedule a lot more for you in the way of meetings and orientations than normal. I also won't be able to attend the temple this week which is a bummer but I plan on taking every future opportunity to go as there is not a temple in my mission.
They split the companionships into senior and Junior companion. They chose Senior companions arbitrarily and we'll be switching roles in 4 weeks. The reason for this is so that we can have a tree of leadership. I am the senior companion as well as our District Leader. That is a lot to take on your first 3 days. I feel like I haven't had time to really learn my calling, but there will be training sessions and time to adjust in the future I suppose. My sunday is jam packed with meetings though.
My district is really cool though. My companion is Elder Teilor. His parents are from Brazil so he's pretty fluent in Brazilian Portuguese, but there are many differences so sometimes he is learning just as much as I am.
Another Elder in my mission, Elder Braithwaite, is also fairly fluent in Brazilian Portuguese becauase he lived there for a few years. Elders Nunez and Del Aguila are fluent in Spanish. The others in my district Elders Bretzing, Brown, and Paulsen all took a year or two of spanish in high school, so we have a pretty good background for the language. Es ist schade das ich vier jahren Deutsch gesprochen hätte.
It is interesting how much of my German has come back since I got to the MTC. I was able to speak a little with some of the German speaking missionaries, but not much. I just hope my German and Portuguese don't start mixing, as that would be a bit of a problem.
Anyways, this is probably going to be the longest email I send, depending on how many emails I begin to recieve. The more emails I get, the shorter my emails will be. But that doesn't mean I will still write long emails if you don't write, so write me. or else. Oh, and post this email and my email address on my blog. I gave you the information so you have no excuse not to.
Center your lives on Christ. Follow his example. Love your neighbors as yourself and serve them as Jesus would. I know that as you seek to follow the words of the prophets, you will be blessed.
Elder Canute Peterson
p.s. It's kind of cool to preface my name with elder.
p.p.s. When you address anyone merely as 'Elder,' everyone else checks to see if you mean them. and that's hilarious.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Canute's in the job-
I'm not sure how many of you know this, but Canute didn't put together an email list that I know of before he left on his mission. If he did, please let me know, so I can look for it and find it. Anyway, his address at the Provo MTC is:
Elder Canute Russell Peterson
Cape Verde Praia Mission
Provo Missionary Training Center
2005 N. 900 E.
Provo, UT 84604
So if you wish to send him letters, please do. I'm sure he would enjoy receiving them. Also, I don't know how his emailing will work, but if you wish to receive his emails, please email him back here and we'll try to get you on the list. Love, His sister Merilee
Elder Canute Russell Peterson
Cape Verde Praia Mission
Provo Missionary Training Center
2005 N. 900 E.
Provo, UT 84604
So if you wish to send him letters, please do. I'm sure he would enjoy receiving them. Also, I don't know how his emailing will work, but if you wish to receive his emails, please email him back here and we'll try to get you on the list. Love, His sister Merilee
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Elder Canute
Alright, so I was just set apart today. I report to the Provo MTC on Wednesday the 18th. I will be serving in the Cape Verde, Praia mission. I've started this blog so that my family can update what I am doing while on my mission. Essentially what will happen is I will send an email to my family and one of them will post that letter here on the blog. Enjoy!
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