EMAIL: Mon, January 21, 2013          1:34 PM

Subject:  One Year as a Missionary!

Howdy Y'all!

I hope that y'all were able to have a great week. The weather has been warm here in Texas, but should be cold again this week. The warmth has been very nice because people are taking the opportunity to play outside and do yard work, so we have been able to talk to more people about the gospel. Sister Overy and I are still working hard to find people that have been prepared by the Lord to teach and to bring to Christ.

This past week we all had interviews with President Durrant. I feel so blessed to have the best mission president in the world. President Durrant is so loving and caring and obedient. Did y'all know he spoke in General Conference when he was only about 23 years old. He is the only young person to even have spoken in General Conference, which is amazing. I think this shows just how awesome my mission president is! Y'all can even watch his talk now online. Devin G. Durrant, Missions- Only You Can Decide https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1984/04/missions-only-you-can-decide?lang=eng&cid=email-shared

I feel so blessed to be in the best mission ever with the best mission president. President Durrant is working so diligently to make us the best missionaries that we can be- to help us be full of charity and exact obedience. I am really grateful that he wants us to keep being better and not just be lax or happy with how we already are. Life is about improving. I know that as we all come closer to the Savior, we will be happier and blessed.

Our investigators Amie and her daughter Alexandre came to church again yesterday! It is so great when you don't have to feel like you are forcing investigators to come to church or have to constantly keep reminding them. Amie was super busy at work this week, so we still haven't been able to teach them, but I am looking forward to meeting with them. Amie loved the Gospel Principles' class yesterday. We learned about the importance of the Savior in our Heavenly Father's Plan. Amie felt enlightened afterward and said that she learned a lot. Alexandre was also excited to go to YW's at church, so that is exciting as well. I know that Amie and Alexandre have been prepared for the gospel. I am excited to teach them!

At the beginning of 2013 I gave everyone a challenge to read the Book of Mormon in the year. I hope each of you accepted this challenge Thank y'all that have written me and told me that you are going to read the Book of Mormon in 2013. I love the BOM so, so much. It has been a comfort and a guide to me as a missionary. I have seen it bless the lives of so many people. I look forward to reading the BOM each day (sometimes I don't want to study anything else). I have finished reading through the chapters in 2 Nephi, and I am always amazed by how much the Lord loves each of us. I love whenever it mentions that the Lord's arm of mercy is always extended towards us. I know that it is true. The Lord is always waiting for us to come back or come closer to Him. I pray that each of us is striving to gain a better relationship with our Savior Jesus Christ and our loving Heavenly Father. I know we can come to understand this better through the Book of Mormon. I hope you each read this special book in 2013. I know that BOM is true!!!

So this Friday I will be celebrating my one-year anniversary as a missionary. I can't believe how quickly the time has flown but also how long of a journey it has been. I can't believe that a year ago I was leaving my family and entering the MTC for an adventure of a life time. I am so grateful for the opportunity to be a missionary. I am grateful to be a representative of my Savior Jesus Christ. I love Him so much! I know that Christ loves each and every one of us eternally and infinitely. I am grateful for His Atonement and role is helping each of us return to live with our Heavenly Father once again. I am grateful for all of the wonderful people that I have met as a missionary. I love the people of Texas! I love my investigators, and I love each of my converts so much! I am grateful for each for the companions that I have had, and all of the experiences and trials that we have had together. I love the missionaries in the TDM. I have made so many friends and all of them are so amazing and great missionaries. I am glad to be a missionary at this time, in this place, with these people, and everything else that comes along with being a missionary. I love what Mormon says in 3 Nephi 5:13 and I know it applies to me directly. "Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people [in the Texas Dallas Mission], that they might have everlasting life." Isn't that beautiful? How great to be a missionary! I can't believe that so much time is already gone from my mission. There is so much left to do. But I am looking forward with faith to the next 6 months. I know that these months will be successful and miraculous. Oftentimes missionary work is hard and sometimes discouraging, but it is so worth it. The Lord loves His missionaries. He has blessed me so much, and I know that He will continue to bless me as a missionary. I pray that I can continue to be a tool in the Lord's hands to bless other people, whomever they might be. I love being a missionary!

Thank y'all for your love and support! I love you each so much!

Love always- Sister Peck