As of lately!!

hello all! so this is transfer week! i will be staying in my same area that ive been in since i got here! i will be getting a new companion tho on thursday! so i will send pictures and details next week! although i might have to buy a new camerz because mine isnt working. but it might just be the batteries i bought here. i have to figure that out when i find some time!) so sorry no pictures again this week accept the one that was forwarded to me by a member in my branch here., jenefer rivera! she is so awesome! she helps us all the time! she comes to teach investigstors with us! and she feeds  us delicious food! 

so highlights this week...

1.) baptism of sister marilou! hurray! im so happy to tell about this! she is such a special spirit! a miracle really for this area! she is so strong sprirtually already! my dream is that next year i can go thru the temple with her! anyways she had to be dunked 5 times! can you believe it? her knees kept coming up!! but the fifth time it was finally by emmerision! ever since her baptism, she has been smiling from ear to ear! she is a testimony to me, of the mercy of the Lord. Of the love of the Lord. And the constant knowledege of His children he has. 7 more people got baptized with her from the elders area! so our branch is growing! 

2.) meet the mormons! so we had a stake activity called meet the mormons! i was so excited because i thought we were going to watch the movie! but we didnt....haha...so ill have to wait til i get home! but anyways members from the stake were supposed to bring someone who wasnt a member. then missionaries tuaght them over view of the book of mormon, plan of savlation, and the restoration. the turn out was great! and what was even greater is that the turn out from our branch waas great! before my mission i mostly looked at missionary work as full time missionaries. BUT ITS NOT JUST FOR THEM! we need you!!! (like the slogan for the army haha) but really we missionaries need you members!! when members work with us, our lessons are more effctive, the investigators feel more comoftable, and its just a blessing for them and us! fin time to help your missionaries in your area by giving them refferals, giving one hour to go teach a lesson with them, and fellowship investigators and new members! if your shy or feel awkard, as my dad blake peavler would say "get over it!" haha. just joking. but actually pray to Heavenly Father for understnadning of the atonement. i read somewhere ( i think preach my gospel) that the more you understand the atonement the more you will have the desire to share the gospel! and i truly testify of that! Jesus Christ and His atonement is our everthing! and when you understand that and what that means, it will be easier to share! its normal to feel awkward! i even do and im supposed to be a professional at this haha! but just open your mouth! even tho im no where near a perfect missionary, i can testify to what i read. cuz thats why i came on a mission. i understood the atonement more fully and had a desire to share it with others! 

3.) food! i ate duck! it was really good! im thinking about going off rice this transfer! but if my companion is filipina that will be difficult to do! filipino food is actually really good. wayyyy better than i thought it was going to be! one of my favorite tings is buco! its coconut! fresh! we buy it at the market then crack it open and drink the juice and put the meat in the freezer! its soooo good! the fruit here is the best!!! im stayinh at another missionary home now because my companion went home, and these missonaires are american. so i ate cereal this morning and it was so great! and they are planning to have tacos while im there! the food i miss the most are milk,cheese,and mexican food! 

4.)Christmas Devotional! so we got to watch the Christmas devotional last night! and it was oh so fantastic!! i really loved the talk by elder christopherson! his talks are always my favorite! sometims we have to go thru challenegs to help others come unto Christ. and he suffered ALL. and we are no where near our savior in terms of greatness.jusat like He told joseph smith in liberty jail "the son of man hath descended below all,are you greater than Him? this gives me strength to push thru challlenges. the Savior went thru all. we need to push thru our challenges with His help, being willing and submissive to His will. Whcih sometimes we dont know His will. but just remember the scripture that says something like anything that is good comes from God. if it convinces you to do good it is of God. i know as we pray and ask, we can find God's will for us. and like our Savior learn to be submissive to His will even in painful times.

well love you and ill be skyping next week! i will make a skype accountnext week on monday then tell you my skype name! love youall and thanks you for your love and support!!! 

There is hope through the atonement!

hello! happy late thanksgiving! unfortunately the only turkey here was a wild one....but it was still a good day ;)

1.) The day of Thanksgiving I had exchanges with a sister training leader. It was an extra great day! We found 2 new investigators (through a member......help the missionaries in your ward!) Anyways i love seeing the hunger people have for the gospel! we were teaching them and one girl had to get up and do something and she went so fast so she could be back as soon as possible to hear the lesson. i could see the yearning for truth through the excitement in her eyes! We left the house with both of them scheduled to be baptized in January! 

2.) Sister Hewlett! So she's so great! She's an investigator about 20 years old. The more we teach her the more i realize how much yearning for hope people have in the world. How so many people have no hope. They don't know that all can be made right through the atonement. That's why I'm so happy I'm here, so people know this. Anyways on sunday we were walking to pick up another investigator for church, And sister Hewlett was out side hosing off her front porch. We invited her to come to church again and she accepted! So she came to sacrament meeting and it was branch conference (mom I played the piano for the ward choir) our stake president spoke and a couple other leaders! She told us she really liked the talk about improving our testimony of Jesus Christ. Really knowing our Savior. which reminds me I've been reading "Jesus the Christ" when ever i have even a minute of spare time...which isn't often, I pick it up! Ive been skipping around in it and recently read bout the parables that Jesus Christ taught. I like the one about the seeds being cast on to four different types of ground and soil. at the end of the parable the author (talmage i think?) mentions it doesn't say that the ground the seeds get cast on are definite. like the Thorny ground can be made healthy again. The dried ground can become fresh again. This is what I've been thinking a lot about lately. About the hope of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

no matter where you are maybe some stony places or thorny...that's not the end. You can change! I think that why the story of the prodigal son is my favorite.When the son returns he gets the BEST from the father. The father doesn't say " well you did return, but you did this in the past" instead he rejoices and gives him the best! watch this!

https://www.lds.org/bible-videos/videos/the-prodigal-son?lang=eng

and this! the best Christmas present

http://www.mormon.org/christmas?cid=HPFR112814529

i wish i had time to write more about my week but i got to go! love sister peavler

Savanna received her Christmas package and couldn't wait to open it!

Thanksgiving Day Slush!

Street outside Savanna's house

Happiness Comes From Living What is Taught in The Book of Mormon!

Hello all! I am excited to share about my week!

1.) Sister Beth was baptized! Unfortunately I don't have a picture of us yet at the baptism! It was a really great baptism! The best blessing of a mission is seeing the changes in people through the gospel of Jesus Christ! and this is so evident in Sister Beth! She has really bloomed and I felt so much excitement when she went under the water and when she was confirmed! There's nothing like the feeling of being a part of this! Seeing her grow, has strengthened my testimony. I know there is no other way to real and lasting joy than through following the commandments. and I saw that joy in Sister Beth this past weekend! 

2.) BOM! No, dont worry, its not a real bomb....It's more impactful (is impactful a word?I can't remember?) anyways it's the Book of Mormon! man, I sure love it! if your having a hard time understanding it or finding the joy through it, or having a desire to read it, pray and tell Heavenly Father! I know he'll change that! Because his whole purpose is for us to be happy, and so much happiness comes from living what is taught in the book of mormon! During a lesson with a recent less active return, we asked her how she gained her testimony of the gospel. I couldn't understand everything she said but I understood that it was because of the Book of Mormon. That when she read the Book of Mormon she knew this was the Lord's church. It was a sweet experience to hear her testimony. 

3.)CHURCH ATTENDANCE...so in the area im in right now , there is a branch, not a ward...yet. Anyways yesterday was pretty epic. Our average goal for attendance is 80 people. Well yesterday we had 113! and 18 of them were investigators!! Most of the investigators were from the elders area which is like 20 minutes from the church and costs money, and most people don't have much money here! Yet people make excuses for not gong to the church all the time! but they made it! If you really believe it, you'll do it! That  is what we taught one less active a couple of weeks ago. The scripture that says "if ye believe these things, see that ye do them". From king Benjamin. well the past two weeks shes been coming to church and thats a miracle in itself, and she used to try to hide when we were in her neighborhood, but now she's changed. 

4.) Sister Malu! She is one of our new investigators. She is just awesome! She has a family of I think 5. but for now we are just teaching her..but we know her and her husband will be sealed ;)...anyways she has a special spirit. She has such a strng desire to do what is right! well this week she opened up to us about something in her past and was so worried she couldnt be baptized because of this. we assured her there is a way. andshe said "well thats good to hear","that theres a way". The Lord will always provide a way! It's so great to meet people like her who are so humble. She is willing to do anything to change. She has come to church twice now and is preparing for baptism on December 13!

Well, until next week! thanks for your love prayers and support!

love, Sister Peavler

A Week Full of Miracles

Hello all! 

This week was full of miralces!  and i cant wait to share them!!

1.) FOLLOW UP 200! This is a new program my mission is using. instead of focusing on like 3 to 4 communities we are now told to just stay in like 2. and every single day we are to visit our investigators. when we visit them , we either read with them from the Book of Mormon, or we sing for them. but every day we are supposed to have contact with them! This is a crucial time for the Philippines Angeles mission! the goal at the beginning of this year was to baptize 1,650 people! right now we are at about 1,250. through calculations, each companion ship is accountable for 4 baptisms before january 1! My president had a special meeting with us this week. he said a few months ago he wasn't sure that we could make this goal happen. but now, he has no doubt in his mind! The missionary spirit is so strong here! It's awesome! We are all working so hard to find those 4 souls we can bring unto Christ! our president told us that we will do this through laser focus and trusting the Lord. The Lord set this goal! They aren't just numbers, but his children! anyways this program had been trusted and now our whole mission started it. It's awesome!!

2.) Beth! Beth is 17, she will be baptized on saturday!!! We are so excited! The fact she will get baptized is truly a miracle! Her family is not supportive of her joining the church. and we were all a bit concerned how she was going to get her guardians signature. but the other night she felt like it was the right time to confront her dad, and her dad signed it with no problems. We were so relieved when she brought the signature to church yesterday! me and my companion squeezed her so tight! We know she is so ready for this time in her life! 

3.) Family! Finding families here in the mission is always a special experience! and guess what! We found a family this week! We've begun teaching the mom, dad, and 2 of their sons. I know the Lord led us to them! The father told us he has been wanting to visit the Mormon church but he didn't want to go alone and is shy. But now that he knows us, he will come! The mom was given a book of Mormon a while ago actually, and has read some of it! we have such a great feeling about this family!! People are waiting everyday to hear Heavenly Father's plan for them! I'll keep you updated on this family:) 

I have to go! but I'll share more next week! I love you all! and thank you for your love and support!!!

love, Sister Peavler :)

"For any of you girls who are thinking about going....GO!"

Hello! Sister Peavler here!! I'm excited to tell you about being here in the Philippines! I love emailing! It's when i  reflect on all that I've learned, and my testimony grows stronger every time i do that! 

my highlights.....

1.) 12 weeks! My 12 weeks of training is over! So fast!! This week I will find out if me and my trainer are separated/transferred. It's been 12 weeks I'll never forget! The mission is a wonderful thing. For any of you girls who are thinking about going....GO! You wont regret it!!!! The biggest thing I've learned during my training is that this gospel, the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is true! Of course I knew this before I came here! that's why I'm here! but a testimony is a living breathing thing that needs nourishment! and my testimony has been oh so nourished these past 12 weeks! You may say "Well of course Sister Peavler! You're a missionary" and that's true but you really have to recognize things to have and keep a testimony. Heavenly Father can pour out blessings to you but if you don't ever recognize them, then you don't realize the blessings of the gospel! but reflecting on these past 12 weeks, I again come to know this is Christ's church. There's struggles every day. but there's miracles every day. Every single day Heavenly Father's hand is in our life, we just have to stop and notice it! I love a quote from elder Bednar that says we should pray every day to have eyes to see and ears to hear every miracle in each day! It really makes a difference when you notice these things! You realize how aware Heavenly Father is of you! Man! I just love the gospel! Of course there are challenges here. Every day! But when I think of what I know, no challenges matter anymore! I've been thinking a lot about Job from the bible lately. He had everything and everyone against him. Yet above all, he lifted his voice and declared that he knew his Redeemer liveth! I love that and hope I can always follow his example. He knew what really mattered. That was his relationship with our Savior. 

2.) Hallowchristmas!!!! In September here, they start playing Christmas music! It's crazy! I was confused when we go to the mall and see Halloween decorations and costumes but Christmas music playing in the background! They just love Christmas here! 

3.) Tender mercies...back to the Lord being so aware of you....I see it so much here! There are many dogs here! that bark like crazy at night to all people who walk by. When my companion walk by they usually just look or don't even notice us. There are even a couple dogs in our neighborhood who walk us to our house at night! And then one of them sleeps outside our house to guard us! We didn't plan this! We aren't allowed to have pets! but they just come to our house and guard us! Also it obviously rains here...and sometimes really really hard! but often it will pour really hard during a lesson...but then we when are finished and go outside to walk to the next appointment, it stops raining. or just barely drizzles. we always get where we need to go safely! and our home couldn't be in a more safe spot! :) 

4.) Dog! So this is gonna sound evil....but I ate dog! I had to try a bite! The chance will never come again! It was the most emotional meal of my life! haha!!! I just thought about a dog and then it tasted really gross. I took like 2 bites then couldn't take the guilt any longer! haha...and the slimy taste of the soup.....:/ my problem is I always say "masarup!" When people feed me. Masarup means delicious! So then the people keep putting food on my pate! The other night our investigator fed us and I kept saying Masarup! because of course I wanna be nice! But i was so full then she dumped like a whole bucket of rice on my plate! It's quite humorous actually! After I laughed about it with my companion and came to the conclusion to not say Maserup so many times so they wont keep dumping food on my plate! haha. but its a blessing! when we first got here, no one hardly ever fed us. but now so many people do! Even our investigators! 

5.) Angeles! So we got to travel to Angeles and listen to leaders of the church in the Philippines speak. Some missionaries put the most beautiful version of "Joseph Smith's prayer" together! it was the piano, violin, and then some missionaries sang. The spirit was so strong!!! I remembered when I visited the sacred grove before when i was in new york. I'm so grateful for that experience! You don't have to go there, to have a testimony of the first vision obviously. but it was such a special experience and hearing the song reminded me of it! 

well there always more to write but its about that time to get off so ill send some pictures! thank you for your love and prayers!

     

Understanding the Atonement Brings a Desire to Share the Gospel

Hello! Sister Peavler here!

I'm excited to share some highlights! It feels like its been a while since I have!! Anyways....

1.) Zone p-day! My zone which is about ten sisters and ten elders went to this monument called Death March. we all piled into 1 jeepney...it was quite the squeeze but we are alive so all is well! We mostly just took tons of pictures there! It was really fun! It's so great making so many friends here! We also walked over this hanging bridge! I will send pictures of that day!

2.) General conference! General confernece was great like always! I wish I could go on the computer every day to review the talks! One of my friends here told me that her companion once told her "Heavenly Father makes her feel like an only child."  It's so true! Through those talks, I learned so much and felt things directed to me. It's amazing how special we are to Heavenly Father even though we are just a speck of His creations. After general conference a member took us to SM. It's the big mall here! Anyways we had pizza hut! It was oh so delicious! a nice break from rice fish and vegetables!!:)

3.) Agency. I've learned a lot about agency here on the mission. We have so much freedom to choose. Heavenly Father gave us a plan to follow in this life (which is all in the Book of Mormon:). He gave us everything we need. Yet sometimes we still choose the wrong thing. The natural man really bothers me sometimes! Every action has a consequence. Because God loves us so much He wants us to experience joy and we don't know joy if we don't experience sorrow!

4.) One by one...the Lord helps us one by one. Individually. It truly amazes me. I already spoke of this but He just knows us so well. I dont understand but am grateful to really see this. I love visiting less actives. I always feel my Saviors love for them. I feel His desire for them to come back. Things happen in life, hard things, but we can't forget how we've gotten this far already. Doctrine and Covenants chapter 6 is one of my favorites because it talks about this. Don't forget the confirming witness you've gotten before. Don't forget your testimony. Strengthen it everyday. It's a living thing that can  grow or die, so fast!

5.) Michael...I'd like to share a little about Michael one of our new investigators. He's so great! From our first leson with him, I really felt his special spirit. Anyways he was in a bad accident in japan a few years ago. He is now blind in one eye. He's gotten closer to Heavenly Father since His accident. and I really feel he has been prepared for the message of the restored gospel! He asks such pure questions it's hard to explain but it just makes me so happy! We were teaching the first lesson to him and we were at the apostasy part and we said that there was no longer the true church on the earth during the apostasy. Then he jumped in and said in english "So what is the true church now" and I just smiled so big and kind of laughed becuase he was so intently listening and it just made me so excited! My companion and I said that during the rest of the lesson he'll find out! It's just so exciting to meet people who search and wonder then you get to tell them about Christ's church. There's nothing really else like that feeling. Now he is really searching for an answer! He prays and reads and asks Heavenly Father. We were talking about the Holy Ghost the other day and He said " So how do I know its the Holy ghost?" may seem like a simple question...and maybe I get too excited over little things haha...but i just love being able to teach people about this gospel!!!! especially when they have such a desire like Michael! He's just great and will hopefully get baptized in November!!

6.) 11 week! It's week 11 here in Lapaz for me! Craziness!!! I lead the area this week and my trainer follows me. I'm kind of nervous! but excited too! Then transfers are in a couple of weeks and we will see if we get transferred! I hope I stay here in Lapaz! but I'll be happy wherever:)

7.) Nonmembers.....I really hope people who are not members of this Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints are reading my letters. This isn't just a church. It isn't the "Mormons"church. It is literally Jesus Christ's church. and you can know this! Life will still be hard when you come to know the truth for yourself and satan will try even harder for you to get away from the true church in all kinds of ways. But Heavenly Father loves you, He knows you, and is stronger than Satan. If you want peace of mind, hope, and to feel that your life has purpose, talk to the missionaries, or a member friend, or go online and contact missionaries. Funny story I was on a jeepney and a lady asked me if we were Mormons and I said yes. Well we were talking and I brought up the Book of Mormon. I was saying how beautiful it was and she said "well of course your going to say that cuz obviously its your church its what you tell people " and it isn't that. It's so much more. I don't share these things because I'm a missionary. because I'm a mormon. I'm a mormon and a missionary because i love sharing these things! I don't have to say these words. I don't have to be here in the Philippines! but when you understand the atonement of Jesus Christ you have a greater desire to share it with others. And thats exactly why I'm here! Heavenly Father has a plan for us and Jeus Christ is the center. It's that simple!

DEAR ELDER!!!! Okay so just like every other missionary...I love getting mail....!!!!! And it is difficult for a letter to get here right? Well if you go on dear elder.com and go to Philippines Angeles mission you can type me a message and it will be directly sent to me in letter form! It's so fun! So if you feel like making a missionaries day.....go to dearelder.com! haha(my add for the day)

Well hope all is well back home! thank you for your prayers! they strengthen me every day!!

love sister Peavler

Pizza Hut!!!

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"Conversion is a principle of action"

Hello to all who read this! :) I am happy to tell about week 8 in the mission field! Week 8, can you believe it? i can't! It's almost time for me to leave the nest... away from my trainer...but we actually think we will both stay here in La paz next transfer as well! If so, i will be with her until she goes home! It's kind of strange being with someone who is about to go home! We are at totally opposite places but I'm learning everything from how to cook Filipino foods, to how to get people into the waters of baptism! If my clothes are wet from rain, she tells me to change my clothes so I don't get sick. I love the rain so I don't like to use my umbrella! She says "do you love your work?" and i say yes, then she says, "then use your umbrella so you don't get sick!" haha anyways I'll tell you about some of our adventures :) 

1.) Something I forgot last week! So our branch had family day and we ate some interesting stuff! Well there was all these chicken parts. Basically all the insides! Well there was something that looked like a brain...so one of the elders and I tried it....it was weird.... but then someone told us it was a chicken ovary. I'm not sure what is worse a brain or an ovary... but it was an experience to eat it! 

2.) Tagalog...I'm starting to understand the people well! its a miracle! it makes me excited to know that I'm progressing! The people understand me pretty well I just have a hard time putting sentences together...but it's improving which is great!

3.) Conference....we don't get to watch it until next week unfortunately ;( but I'm really excited! The Internet or something wasn't working so we only got to watch 10 minutes of the women's conference. It was the last part of Uchtdorf's talk! I love his talks! Something I notice he emphasizes in most of his talks is the love Heavenly Father has for us. I am finding that out for myself here in the mission too.Every lesson we give relates back to the love of Heavenly Father. Something that Uchtdorf said is that he loves us now and he always will. It's easy to get discouraged no matter where you are, but like Uchtdorf always points out, the most glorious being who created all knows us individually. How comforting! 

4.) Patience....I'm learning lots of patience. When I see people and their potential in the true church, it breaks my heart when they don't see it. I guess that's how Heavenly Father feels with us sometimes. We have so much potential but don't take the action. Faith requires action and when you act, you become converted. I was listening to a talk this week and it said "conversion is a principle of action" A testimony is so fragile. We have to constantly nourish it! The little things that you hear all the time since you are in primary...yeah those things make or break your testimony. Prayer,scripture study,church,faith,repentance. If you don't do them you wont fall but if you just start slipping up on one of them it leads to more! It all comes down to agency! Which kinda scares me because I choose everything I do! it would be easier if Heavenly Father did! but then we wouldn't grow. Through the atonement of Jesus Christ we can have the power to choose correctly. This is a truth I am learning in my everyday life. the enabling power of the atonement is the key to everything! If you want some spiritual upliftment, study about the atonement! 

5.) The people here are so kind! I walked into the market the other day at like 5:30 in the morning and was greeted with good morning beautiful! ha ha!! Speaking of the market! It's quite the experience! I wish i could take pictures of it! They sell meat like its clothing! They hang it up and lay it out then everyone picks it up looks at it then if they like it they buy it. It is not a good place for people who are germaphobes! but its a fun experience! i eat mostly vegetables! They're always fresh of course! Usually all my meals are some sort of meat, vegetables, and rice....then for snacks I eat stuff with peanut butter.....like bananas! they have like 50 different types of bananas! its a banana lovers dream!! the food is delicious but i miss other foods.....like milk and cheese!!! and chocolate! and of course Mexican food.....but I'm healthy and well here! :) 

anyways I don't have too much to report this week but hope you enjoyed! and I'll send some pics! :)

Domingo family and elders in our district

Giri Family with Investigator Dongsky

Young women in the branch I serve in. 

My trainer received her departure letter, that's why we look sad!

First baptism!!!

Well, hello! Im excited to tell you all about this week!! Before I start, if you have emailed me and I have not replied, I haven't forgotten you!! I promise! I'll get back to you as soon as I can! 

1.) Peanut butter....Philippines has the best peanut butter. It's fresh, delicious, and just goes good with everything! (haha sounds like a comercial) anyways peanut butter is a highlight but not THE highlight! Anyways I'll just tell the story now. My companion and I were walking and I saw some peanut butter in this little store,,,,, so we both noticed it, and of course we went in to take a look. Well I almost didn't buy it because I already had some peanut butter at home...but then the man selling it convinced me. Well good thing I bought it! Guess why! It started a conversation and he is was baptized but became less active for certain reasons. We only talked to him a little because he was working, but I know Heavenly Father led us to him because he has the desire to come back! and we are so excited to begin helping him! God does work in mysterious ways!!! :) 

2.) Cha Cha! (No not the dance) Cha Cha is the girl who got baptized on Friday!!! Hurray! She met the missionaries 3 years ago and has been being taught off and on. She never really had the desire to be baptized and even hid from the missionaries. Something changed in her! She started reading the Book of Mormon! A whole new glow came about her! Watching her walk into the font was a very special moment. She had the biggest smile on her face, that made me smile...and cry. I just could remember the first day we met her. She was so shy and pracitcally hiding behind the door. Now, she is just beaming with light! I'm so grateful to experience this. To see the change in her life. I know Heavenly Father is loving. He wants us to be happy. I've realized that here more than ever. We have a loving Heavenly Father. He wants us to be happy, and he has given the way for us to be happy, through following the gospel of Jesus Christ. Thats a moment I'll never forget! Watching her walk into the font with the biggest smile!!! 

3.) I had my first exchange this week with the sister training leader! I'll send pics from that! I went with sister Amende from New Zealand. (not to be biased but New Zealanders are probably overall the nicest people I've met.) I've met many here on the mission and they are so genuinely kind! Meeting new people is a great thing! You learn so much! I just love it! I learned to follow the spirit that day of exchanges! Sometimes I don't because I'm scared or I doubt. We made a goal to do that day and the spirit was so strong! So follow the spirit! Pray to recognize the spirit! It'll change alot of things! Make you more happy just like Heavenly Father wants! 

well these are just a few! but i love you and miss you all:) love, sister peavler