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!