October 12th, 2015 - THE END
All I Needed
I guess that time has come. After two years in France it is my turn to head home. I am so happy and so sad at the same time. I don't even know what to do...haha.
I remember being in the MTC in October. I was such a little kid. I didn't really know what I was getting myself into, but I am so grateful to have made that decision to go on a mission because that is when I truly understood everything that I needed in life.
The mission was really a turning point for me. Before the mission I didn't really know God or why all of this is important but little by little God changed me. I remember seeing so many people give up their lives for the Gospel and I started to realize what the Gospel meant. I saw people's lives change through the Gospel and then I started to see that it was changing mine.
The most important thing that I learned on my mission was the immensity of our Heavenly Father's love for all of us. Everyday I felt his love for me and for His children and through that I found myself out here.
The truth is, is that all I needed was the Gospel. I thought I knew myself and I thought I knew the purpose of life before the mission but it turns out that I was wrong. When I gave up all that I had to God is when I found my life.
I am so grateful for the mission and how it has given me a purpose in this life. I am so grateful for all the people I have met and how they changed my life. I am so grateful for my Heavenly Father who gave me this chance to come here to France to share the Gospel.
I know that all we need in life is the Gospel. It changes us and transforms us into something new. I know with all my heart that Jesus Christ did come to the earth to atone for the sins, sicknesses, and pains of all mankind. I know that God and His son, Jesus Christ, love us beyond our imaginations and that they know us personally. I know that this church is true and that God has restored the truth in these latter days. All of this is what we truly need in our lives and I came to know all of this with a surety thanks to these past 2 years.
I am so excited to see everyone in 3 days! I love you all! Have a great week! See you soon! :D
Elder Evan Peterson
Went hiking with some non-members with us four missionaries! Super legit!
October 5th, 2015
"Honestly, Won't Someone Stop This Train?"
I can't believe that my time is almost up. I guess John Mayer put it best when he said, "Honestly, won't' someone stop this train?" The mission goes by so fast, so freaking fast. I just remember a couple of days ago when I was back in Chartres and I had been out for a couple of months. Now I am 10 days away from home. I can't describe what I am feeling right now. I am so excited to see all my loved ones but I am so sad to leave.
Anyways...I can save all the sad talk for next week.
This week was good though. We taught our amis, Pierre and Ghislaine. They were supposed to be baptised this week but they told us that they needed to reflect on it. They said they didn't want to feel like they were tied down by rules and commandments. During the whole rendez-vous we testified about how the commandments are there to help us come closer to God and His son Jesus Christ and how they are there to make us free not to be as barriers. We gave them the invitation to pray and ask God about it so hopefully that goes well. I know it will. It is all up to them though if they want an answer because God always fulfills His promises.
We had exchanges this week as well. We were here in St. Die with the zone leaders. It was a really good exchange as well. We were able to teach some people. I just love every time when people just take the time to listen to us and the moments when you can clearly testify to them. That happened during our exchange this week. While we were porting we met a middle-aged man. He opened the door and he asked us who we were. We told him and then he said he wasn't believing and that it wasn't worth the pain but that didn't stop us from talking with him. After he said that we just had a nice conversation with him and little by little you could see his heart open. Finally we were able to testify about how he could come to know God. By the end he still didn't want to fix a rendez-vous but he opened up enough that he said he would try and pray and ask God if he was there. And you know what? That still made me so happy because by small things great things come to pass.
Well..that's about it. This will be my week of lasts and then I will be home so I will try to soak in all that I can this coming week. Have a great week guys! Love you! See ya soon! :D
Elder Evan Peterson
September 21st, 2015
Dying Testimony
Hey everyone! This week was pretty good and very busy.
First off, we have been teaching Pierre and Ghislane. We were only able to see them once this week because they have been sick. We are going to have to push their baptismal date to the 10th of October because we won't have enough time to teach them everything before the 26th of September and because Ghislaine still smokes. But they are progressing and they totally believe in everything, so it should be fine.
We also have been teaching this Algerian family. They are super cool. They don't really speak English but they really believe in the restored gospel. In fact, this Sunday they came to church with their friends that they brought and they live 30 minutes away from the church! We had about 10 amis at church this week which was freaking amazing! :D
This week we also had zone conference all the way in Paris. It was a good one but super weird knowing that it was my last zone conference. I was able to give my dying testimony with the others in my group. I first shared how my dream was to go to L.A. on a mission, convert Kobe Bryant, then return from my mission and find a wife, then have Kobe be called as a temple sealer and seal me and my wife in the L.A. temple...haha. Then I shared during my testimony the most important thing I learned on my mission, which is, in order to find your life you have to lose it. It was pretty sad sharing it. Some tears were shared. The mission has truly helped me to find my life and it has been the greatest thing that has ever happened to me.
Later on in the zone conference, President Babin addressed us and when he got up there, the first thing that he said was, "Elder Peterson, I have a message for you that I received from somebody." I was super shocked and then he showed on his slideshow a picture of Kobe Bryant, reading the message which said, I am waiting for you Elder Peterson." Haha! I got a pretty good kick out of that one! :)
We also had something interesting happen to us. We had our car towed this Sunday...haha. But don't worry, the green machine is back safe and sound. We didn't realize that there was going to be a massive super market. We parked in our regular parking place but apparently they were going to use that parking, so we woke up on Sunday morning for church and to our surprise the car was gone. After church we got it back but it cost us 175 euros to get it. It was expensive but these things happen....haha.
Better go. Have a great week! Love ya! See ya soon! :)
Elder Evan Peterson
