The best birthday present I could ask for

Magandang Buhay! Here are my highlights/thoughts this week

1.) We will be having a baptism this Friday! Usually our baptisms are on Saturday but Saturday is fiesta. All week is fiesta but Saturday is the big fiesta. It's basically a big party every night! In one of the areas where we proselyte they put up some rides. I wish i could have taken a picture. The rides are so sketchy! There was this man putting together the roller coaster in his boxers and little kids swinging from the rails! it was crazy! but really funny! anyways..back to the baptism...Arvie jay will be baptized! he is 19 years old! we found him thru his girlfriend,Casylin. she works with us sometimes. Anyways we've been teaching him, and now he is ready to be baptized! I'm so excited!!!!! 

2.) February 7! So yes February seventh is my birthday....but what makes it even better is that we have 3 baptisms planned for that day! It will be the best present ever!!! 2 of the 3 people are the sons of a recent convert,Marilou. She was baptized in December  At first, her sons did not want to be taught. But their mom really loves this gospel. She has prayed long and hard for her sons to be willing to listen and now we teach them every other night and they are actively and excitedly listening! The 3rd baptism will be sister Hewlitt, she is 21. I can't explain my joy about her being baptized. Imagine going to disneyland then eating the best ice cream in the world and then multiply that by 100 that's my joy! I am so happy because she has truly been changed through the atonement of Jesus Christ. I love her story and I love her! and one day she will be a missionary! She told us! 

3.) Prayer and fasting! Before my mission when I heard the word "fast sunday" I thought "yikes! I'm already hungry!" but now I look for days that I can fast. Fasting brings miracles! There are some great articles in the liahona of fasting, read them! 

4.) Transfers.....so transfers are next week! I don't think I will leave this area. But me and my district leader have a bet, he and other missionaries tell me I'll leave! So we will see who gets the ice cream next Wednesday! :) I really want to be here for February 7 but I am excited for new areas and new experiences! 

5.) We are so blessed. Sometimes its easy to overlook miracles and blessings. but they are everywhere. and you are happier when you see them, you realize how much Heavenly Father is in your life. 

6.) Cold! It's been cold here at night! I never thought I'd be cold in the Philippines! 

well until next week! :)

love, Sister Peavler

Prayers answered

Hello! I'm so excited to share my experiences this week!

1.) Earthquake! I woke up to an earthquake the other night! It was a scary, but cool experience!

2.) Baptism! Saturday was so great because a really sweet elderly man Brother Crispon was baptized! He really wants his family to join the church, but he always just comes by himself. His wife agreed to come to his baptism though and he was so excited she came! It was such a sweet day!

3.) Many answered prayers! I had a really great experience the other day. We hadn't found a new investigator all week but all week we had been praying! We had specifically been praying for a family! This area really needs families! So we went out saturday morning and we were led to a great family! I was so happy and excited! They were very receptive and we will be going back to visit them. I knew it was an answer to my prayer.
Another experience I had was with our other new investigator from saturday. His heart is a little hard. He refused to pray. After about five minutes of explaining to him why its important for him to pray he still refused. So I told him that if he prayed now, that he would receive his answer. He told me that would not happen! That he would not receive an answer right away! i told him that he wouldnt if he didn't believe! anyways he still refused so i prayed. but before I prayed and while I prayed I pleaded with Heavenly Father for him to feel something. to have a witness through the holy ghost. Right after the prayer he asked us about this feeling he had. He didnt know what it was. I was smiling from ear to ear because I knew my prayer was answered!

till next week! (it will be longer...promise:)

sister peavler

 Brother Crispon's baptism!

Brother Crispon and his wife and granddaughter

Being silly with friends!

Me and my companion sister Salde from Bacolod, Philippines

This picture is during another lunch break that is a squid! It actually tastes good!

Happy New Year!

hello! Yesterday was my 6 month mark in the mission! crazy how time flies...I really can't believe it! 

Highlights...

1.) Christmas of course! I got to skype the good ole familyy!:) that was definitely the best part! the rest of the day was everyday missionary life! but everyone gave us food! my favorite here is fruit salad! but most of the people here make the fruit salad with the fruit out of a can....i don't understand it! because they have like the best fresh fruit in the world! but its till good! but when i make fruit salad i use fresh fruit! like coconut,mango,watermelon,banana, and other delicious stuff! i think the fruit here is definitely one of my favorite things! anyways that's my fruit salad story...haha. 

2.) Christmas conference! So the mission got together and we had a conference! it was really fun! I got to see friends from the MTC that I haven't seen since then! I'll send some pictures! 

3.) New years! So we had a curfew on new years eve at 6 pm. We watched some church movies,and caught up on some stuff! but we woke up to fireworks in the middle of the night surrounding our house! they were so loud! they weren't the little fireworks we're used to! they were the huge ones! anyways we sat on our porch for a little bit and watched them. It was a new years ill definitely never forget! 

4.) Tatay Crispin! So I'm really excited to tell you about him! he is a 75 year old man that lives really close to the church here. anyways he will be baptized on saturday so ill make sure to send pictures! I'm kind of worried how he will get under the water cuz his body is so fragile!! but there's a way! haha.

5.) We had zone interviews with our mission president this past week! We obviously get interviewed, but then we are taught by some of our leaders. these first few months of the year we are focusing on the atonement and its enabling power! Everyone who reads this needs to watch the Mormon message " reclaimed" here's the link! the atonement is not just for sinners though! It's shown in our everyday lives! Through the atonement we can do things that we can't do on our own! and I definitely feel it here in the mission! I've grown in ways I couldn't have on my own! 

https://www.lds.org/pages/mormon-messages?lang=eng#reclaimed

6.) "Ponder the path of thy feet" this is a talk by the prophet. read it! its about becoming more like the Savior. i really love my Savior! Ive gotten to know Him better through reading, the book of Mormon, the bible,preach my gospel,Jesus the Christ. and through finding people and teaching people. I don't understand how someone could love us so much. I was reading the account of His atonement in the book "Jesus the Christ: (read that too! ..you have a lot of homework!) anyways it made me so sad reading about His pain.but I'm so grateful for his sacrifice. just imagine that, giving your whole life for other people. All your time, efforts,and even you literal life. yet sometimes we are selfish and want things for ourselves, now. but the Savior never thought about Himself. I just really love learning about Him.

7.) I really love this gospel! I don't have a perfect knowledge of all the things of the gospel! i sometimes have questions! but that's okay cuz there are some things I do know that make everything else not matter. and those things are : Jesus Christ lives. He knows us individually. We have a loving Heavenly Father. He wants us to go to Him through SINCERE prayer. The Book of Mormon is the words of God. If you want to have a better relationship with Him and our Savior..read it! Joesph smith is a prophet that was called of God. i don't have all the facts about the apostasy and restoration, but i know it really happened. He sacrificed His life for this gospel, along with many other saints. but more importantly, i have my own testimony of the restoration. i know it in my heart and it just makes sense that Heavenly Father still speaks to us because we are His children , and we need guidance and He loves us! so of course he can call a prophet in these days and reveal to us His will! i also know the atonement can change you. it can truly change your desires,your heart, and your weaknesses. its truly amazing! I'm not a super good missionary, i have many weaknesses. but i always try to make sure everyone knows they have a loving Heavenly Father who knows and loves and has a plan for them. that, to me, is the message of the restoration and the gospel of Jesus Christ! i know family is the most important unit of the gospel. the home is the most sacred next to the temple. I heard that in a quote that week. That's pretty amazing! I know that when we have trials we are being blessed. ether 12:27. If we are having trials its a good thing. Hard, but we are growing closer to the Savior.

anyways hope all is well back in the good old AZ! :)

love Sister Peavler 

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 :)