"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

     

"And we talk of Christ, We rejoice in Christ, We Preach of Christ..."

I am excited to tell more about the adventures in the Philippines! 

1.) The flood.....yes there was a storm and a flood, but i only lost one arm, so all is well! haha...but it was quite the experience actually! We were having companionship study and we looked outside and water kept rising up. She asked me if my 72 hour kit was ready and I was like....uh.....I'll be right back! We got that together then evacuated to the church with other members and non members whose homes were flooded. Our home never flooded thankfully! But we still went to the church to help out. It was quite an experience! I felt like i was in a movie! 

2.) Food! I'm losing weight i think from all the walking. My companion is always telling me to eat more! She is just like a mom! If I'm not hungry at night she makes me eat something to have 'balance" in my life haha. She's great!  Ive been trying a lot of really tasty foods lately! Yesterday after church, the president gave us this delicious snack! that I will eat for the rest of my life! It was a type of sweet potato. But they boil it then cut it and dip it into coconut mixed with sugar. try it! It will change your life! I really miss milk and cheese. Every time we go to the store to get food, I see milk. and my heart breaks a little inside...haha I'm so dramatic...but really the milk here is just...not milk! I haven't seen cheese in ages...! The bread here is so good. I didn't expect that! today we actually had this dish that I will send a picture of! The elders in my district and us cooked it today. and guess who killed the chicken.....me! it was quite the experience! I really didn't want to do it! But you only kill a chicken in the Philippines once right??? but it as really sad....it made an awful noise when it died...sorry for the description haha...but anyways then i helped de feather it too! So I have had many adventures here with food! 

3.) Baptism! Sister Kristia will be baptized on Friday! We are SO excited!!! and she is even more excited! I can't wait to send pictures of that next week!!

4.) Random....I saw a pig the size of a small horse the other day... I couldn't believe my eyes!!! I  just stopped and stared as my companion kept walking! Speaking of seeing crazy things....the other day i saw an American in the grocery store in the city. It was so weird.  I mean I see American missionaries. but never non missionaries that are American. My companion was laughing because I just couldn't believe my eyes haha. its weird seeing an American even tho its only been like 3 months!! 

5.)Prayer. My companion always says the gospel changes lives, which is so true! and part of the gospel is that we can pray to our Heavenly Father anytime anywhere about anything. That changes lives!! pretty amazing when you think about it! My prayers have really changed since being here! when you really pray to Heavenly Father like He is beside you and when you realize you are nothing without Him, your prayers change. and so dos your life. Mahal ko panalangin! (i love prayer!) 

6.) Charity. Being a missionary, the attribute of charity is needed more than ever! As I have been praying for that attribute, I have been feeling the love of Christ for others. I've spoken about brother den den before ,our neighbor. When ever we teach him, I feel the Savior's love for him so strongly. I try to express through my little Tagalog that Heavenly Father hears and knows him. I am just grateful to have the experience of feeling my Savior's love for others. It's also a good reminder of His love for me. Which is so important to remember. In the mission, there are a lot of different feelings you experience. It's a blessing to know that my Savior has so much love for me, that's just one thing that keeps me moving!  Pray for charity! its great! :)

I would just like to end with my testimony. I know my Savior lives. He knows us individually. He wants to hear from us. I know Joseph Smith restored the gospel of Jesus Christ through the power of the priesthood. We are one of the only churches to claim that the church we belong to is the only church on the face of the earth with the fullness of the gospel. If some people reading this aren't sure what the fullness of the gospel means, I will try to explain so you can understand the significance of this statement. "Gospel" literally means "good news" and what is this good news it is found in 2 nephi 25:26 which says, "And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in christ, we preach of christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins." Christ lives!  The good news is that He lives! and this good news is the only way we can return to live with Heavenly Father someday, The Book of Mormon in the introduction says it contains the fullness of the Gospel. everything that will enable us to return to heavenly father is contained in this book. Through this book, any answer in your life can be given. You just have to ask and believe. I know the book of Mormon is the word of our Heavenly Father, and you can know too. anyone can! i love this gospel. That is why I am here. I have many weaknesses that i am learning to overcome, but i can say with all the strength I have that This is Christ's church. 

Thank you for your prayers and support! 

love, sister peavler

"A Mission is Not A Sacrifice"

Hurray! I have an hour and a half today so I'll get to share lots :))))

welcome to the week of Sister Peavler.....

1.) Fruit!! yes, Philippines has the best fruit. Look up pictures on google! They are so crazy looking!!! and so superbly delicious! and they grow on trees right in front of you! haha the little things that amuse you as a missionary!

2.) Sister FEVER! haha no one here can say peavler, its quite amusing. In my branch I'm know as Sister Fever. and every time we meet someone new they stare at my name tag then I sound it out with them haha. 

3.) Zone meeting! I love my zone! We get together about once a week for a meeting or something else. The best part is that sister Mcgoon (my roomie from mtc) is in my zone! (shes one of the sisters from figi).  anyways the meeting this week was great. We learned a lot! One thing I want to share about is the BOOK OF MORMON. It's in all caps because there is an epidemic going around....its called neglecting of the book of Mormon! and yes, i was guilty of it before I came here! but now, i know my testimony is nothing without it! If we want to have a true,converted testimony, we have to consistently search ponder and pray about it! It's not something you  cant do it half hearted! In the mission you realize how much you need the Lord, and the best way besides prayer ,to communicate with Him is through the book of Mormon!! I really know this to be true. I'm not just saying it because I'm a missionary now:) our most powerful tools as a missionary are the spirit and the Book of Mormon. So I ask you to think and remember what you have. Read the introduction! It's not just a book! It contains the fullness of the everlasting gospel! Everything we need to know (how to have happiness now and forever, how to return to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, and more!) are all in the book of Mormon! I didn't realize what we have, but now i do! 

4.) My neighborhood! I love my neighborhood. The people are so friendly! and hard working! they're up cleaning at like 5:30every morning! (I know that because today I woke up at 5:30!) Anyways there is this little boy and he always says good morning! no matter what time of day it is! When we arrive home around 8 at night he says good morning! haha! Our neighbor is a less active. We've actually been teaching him! His name is brother den den! Every night his dog guards our house! and he makes us Filipino food a lot! Anyways he was a strong member. still is, but he doesn't go to church. There are several less actives in my area, who are great members but they will not go to church, so they do not progress. Anyways, last night we taught brother den den. I truly felt my Savior's love for him. I know how Heavenly Father feels when we do not live up to our potential. That's how i feel with brother den den! I see  him as a future leader in the church!! but sometimes we get in the way of ourselves progressing. It's sad, but hopefully will improve! I want to see him in a white shirt at church before I leave this area!!!

5.) Brother Dongsky! I love saying his name! Anyways that's not the highlight..haha. So he was getting ready for a baptism....but not for the right reasons..anyways when my companion and I got here, we told him he needed to do it for himself. Well he didn't come to church, and didn't have interest in teaching him anymore. BUT THEN yesterday he showed up to church! and he brought two of our other investigators with him! It was a huge surprise! he picked up our other 2 investigators to go to church , Jeffery and Bobbie who are brothers. 14 and 9ish.... anyways he has changed, we don't know how yet cuz we haven't met with him yet. but his whole demeanor has changed! and we are so excited! 

6.) Filipinos...yes all of you have heard of the kindness of Filipinos....well i can tell you its sure true! They are so humble! So kind! People rarely ever turn us away! Yes, people still stare at me wherever I go because I'm white and "tall" haha. Me and my companion laugh because they say "wash your name?" instead of "what's your name" because the accent. I just think "I can't wash my name! They also say "hi mom!" but they mean "hi ma'm!" and i just think I'm not your mom! It's funny though! 

7.) Miracles! So many miracles are happening! People who haven't been to church in a very long time are coming! People( mostly less actives) who used to turn the missionaries away are letting us in and with open arms! Investigators are coming to Church! not all but some and we have a baptism the end of September that we did not think we would have! I'm so excited! It's is for a girl named sister cha cha! She's 15 years old and a sweetie. She never came to church because she didn't have a skirt, so I gave her mine and yesterday she was there! She is so thrilled to get baptized! We are so excited for her! Right now she lives with her brother and sister alone. Her father left their family, and their mother left somewhere recently too. They don't know when she'll be back. We are so happy she has the gospel to fill the empty holes! 

8.) A mission is not a sacrifice. I hear that sometimes. That a mission is a sacrifice, and its really not. Yes, I have stretch marks on my head and toes because you get so stretched here. I mean in every way possible. Every day there are struggles, but its still not a sacrifice. It's a blessing to go on a mission. There are hard things like i said but the hardest thing for me is not being able to share all that I want to with others. I don't really care that i dump a bucket of cold water on my head every morning for a shower, or that I don't have air conditioning, or that i eat rice every single day, or that i walk in really hot weather for 6 hours a day. Those things don't matter to me. the only thing that matters is to share the message. Its not very easy when you are called to do it in another language. The language is alright for me. It's a struggle. When I want to help people and I think of things i want to say that they may need to hear and then I can't say it in Tagalog, really breaks my heart! but i know it will improve. line upon line. precept upon precept. 

well hope you enjoyed these! thank you for all your support and prayers. until next time!

Sister Savanna Peavler

Short and Sweet

So I have about 8 minutes left to write about my week! ahh! 

highlights...

1.)Salas Family...this family is truly special. The father was baptized a longtime ago but became less active. We visited them and now their family is coming to church. They have 4 beautful children! We had a very special lesson with them this week. It was by candle light because they don't have electricity. They were just so consumed in the lesson listening to every single word, even the little kids. Words can't describe my love for them! We are trying so hard to help them get to the temple!

2.) I tried their food...this time it was not out of volunteering though!!! this lady offered me it and I felt bad! So I ate it and asked my companion what it was.....pig intestines (inner body stuff) and blood. i thought the blood was a type of meat sauce...but no....it was blood....i wanted to throw up! but i just kept saying masarup! That means delicious! We went back that night for some reason, i cant remember! anyways the rest of it was sitting on the table still! and then she started eating it after it had been out all day! (dad I can picture you gagging haha) anyways it was an adventure!

I wish I had more time!!!! ahhh. but i have to go! We only get 2 hours! but we have so much reporting to do! then we get like no email time! but! thats missionary life ! love you and misss you!!!