Hello family and friends,

This week has been really good!  It's the last week of the transfer and we have been finally able to find people!!! We are so blessed! There was no baptism this week because the situation hasn't changed for our ami, and her son wants to be baptized with her. We had to push the date to the first of March but it was good that we gave her one so she has a goal to work towards.

Anyways, while we were contacting, we found an amazing ami. His name is Borice.  He moved from central Africa to France because of wars there. He is really searching for the truth. When we had our second rendezvous with him, he read pretty much all of First Nephi.  We were so surprised. He showed up to church as well. Sadly he is moving to Lyon soon to look for work but it was so great to finally find some new people.  God is always leading us. I know that. 

Later on in the week, Elder Miller got a huge nose bleed, like the one you had mom. This was the second time it happened to him. We went to the hospital and waited for 3 hours just for them to tell us that we needed to come back later. It was an adventure.

Soldes is going on in France currently.  It is when stores have sales on their stock.  Stores are not allowed to discount anything except for twice a year during soldes.  Because it's so expensive in France, missionaries wait until soldes to purchase items.

Things are great in France. I am staying in Chartres for my second transfer! I can't wait to continue to serve the Lord and the people of Chartres! The people here are nice and friendly. I am starting to just think in French instead of translating into English.  I'm hoping to learn the language well enough to teach at the MTC later.  I know that this work is true and that Jesus Christ is our Savior! He knows us all personally beyond our imagination! Have a great week everyone!!

I love you all so much!!!

Elder Peterson

Why hello family and friends!!!

This week has been pretty good! This week we moved the church to a brand new building! It's still not an actual church though, it is just in a business.  It was a lot of moving.  I even got to see one of those spiders from Harry Potter!!! It was gigantic! Spiders get big up here! Both Elder Miller and I thought it was dead, but it wasn't..haha.  We looked at it closely and it moved and ran away...I still don't know where it is at.

Me and my comp have become pretty good cooks, especially with pasta.  We usually eat with members twice a week. I usually eat oatmeal for breakfast, a baguette for lunch and pasta for dinner.  

Every apartment over here has weights which has been great for working out.

Anyways, we are being confused with the Jehovah Witnesses. Everyone thinks we are them whenever we do contacting or tracting. I think that's why they are so mad at us sometimes...haha. One of our amis is meeting with them and us. It is hard, but you have to remind yourself that you have the authority from God to preach his Gospel and you always have to teach by the spirit.  That is the most important thing you can do. When people mock you, laugh at you, look at you weirdly, or do anything else, then you should bare your testimony.  That's what I did and it works. Even when you don't see the affects right then and there. BARE YOUR TESTIMONY (with love of course) that Jesus Christ's Church is on the Earth and that he lives.

I know that this work is the Lord's work. We must strive to be like him everyday. Our Savior experienced all that we have gone through. He has "overcome the world." Through him we can experience the most joy and have the most peace. He has changed me and is still changing me. And, I know that he lives.

I am so grateful to be out here giving people the chance to experience the joy I have received through our Redeemer!!! I can't wait for the baptism this week!! We are preparing one of our amis to get baptized this coming week along with her 9 year old son. It has truly been a miracle with her. We are always seeing miracles out here!!!

I love you guys so much! Until next time, may the Spirit be with you!!

Elder Peterson

The first picture is me at the famous Chartres Cathedral. I found out that every cathedral is called Notre Dame which I thought was interesting.  (Notre Dame means 'our lady' which refers to the Virgin Mary.)  The second picture is because I am just so happy!!!

January 6, 2014

Hello my dearest family and friends,

This week has been really great! We have had two miracles happen!!!  We got a new family, from Kosovo, that moved in our area. They speak Albanian. The parents speak no French but their children speak English and French which is nice. They are such a great family. Well I will tell you about the miracles now!!!

First Miracle: We were planning what to do and where to go for porting (tracting) for 3 hours. We prayed but didn't receive an immediate answer so I just sat in my chair just waiting and listening for an answer. Then I did! I was told to go to this one city, to this one house, and teach them about the Restoration. I was so shocked that I got a specific answer. So we did that and that is exactly what happened! I felt the spirit so strong. God does lead you if you truly want to do his work!!!

Second Miracle: We were thinking and praying about our amis. We really thought one of them and her son could be baptized on the 18th of January. We went to our meeting with them that night. We weren't sure though if it was possible because she is in a situation where she can't be baptized. We watched the Restoration video with her and we felt the spirit burning within us to commit to the 18th. Elder Miller writes the 18th on the table so I could see. I looked at him and nodded. Then I got to ask her to baptism!!! She was so touched and she even asked us if we really thought she was ready. She said yes and that she really wanted that. So her and her son are going to be baptized on the 18th!!! I love seeing the Gospel change peoples lives!!!

This week has been the best! I can tell God loves me so much. He makes me a better person every day. I know that if you strive your best to do his work and to have charity that he will reward you beyond your imagination!

I love you guys so much!!! You have no idea!!!

Elder Peterson

Look, we found the Temple!!! (just a sign..haha)

Week 3 in France....

Hello Everyone!!!

Christmas was great!!!  I loved talking with my family!!!  

On Christmas Eve we spent a lot of time with the members. We went over to two homes for dinner, back to back. haha It was really good. The first house I got to eat some escargot (snails)!!!  It was really good!!  Then at the other home I got to eat something that wasn't as good.  It is called foie gras or in other words, exploded duck liver. If you want to know what it is or how it is made I will let you look it up. haha They eat that a lot out here.

Christmas Day was another day where we spent all of it with the members. More duck liver! haha 

Our branch is so nice.  I got to skype my mom and dad. it was great! You guys make me miss home but I love it out here. I also got to watch "Finding Nemo" in French.  I would have to say that it was funnier in French, haha.

On the 26th we did exchanges so that our DL could do a baptism interview with our family, and let me tell you that you see miracles when you are on exchanges.  It was great. We got to talk to a lot of people and I got to bear my testimony a lot. We actually got to sing a Christmas song to someone too. haha

On the 28th and the 29th, the Lacatus Family (Loan, his wife, and two of his other children) were baptised and confirmed. They were so happy and I was so happy too. It is great seeing the gospel bless peoples lives. In the Gospel is where true happiness lies.  I know that for a fact.

Anyways, family and friends, have a great week and New Years. I love you all so much.  I love it out here serving the Lord. I know that this work is true.  I know that Jesus Christ is the Saviour of the world and that he lives.

Love Elder Peterson

The first picture is the escargot I ate, the second picture is of the family we baptized:

The following are notes taken by me (Evan's mom) during our skype time:

- Evan estimated approx. 30 members in his branch which covers all of Chartres and surrounding cities.

- Their apartment is the same size as our living room. The washing machine is in the kitchen.  The dryer and bunk beds are in the living room.  Their apartment is heated by a radiator. 

- It's very cold there.  Although the temperature is higher than in Utah, the humidity is so high that it makes it colder.  Today they had 94% humidity.

- They walk most everywhere except when they have to go to the surrounding cities, then they take a car.  They have to walk single file most times because the streets are so narrow the cars get to park on the sidewalk.  Their feet hurt from walking on the cobblestone all day.

- On Christmas Eve, they had dinner at Frere Zobiri's home. He gave them each cologne and Belgium chocolate.

- On Christmas Day, they spent time with the Lacatus family and then went to another investigator's homes for lunch. That evening they went to Frere Zobiri's son's home who is the 1st counselor in the Branch Presidency.

- Foie Gras is a highly controversial food and illegal in the US but many people love the taste.

- The Lacatus family that was recently baptized is Romanian.

- Funny story - Evan contacted one guy and introduced himself and said that he knew that Jesus Christ is our Saviour and asked him if  he believed in Jesus Christ?  He said, "no" among other things.  He kept trying to poke Evan in the chest but it was funny because Evan is so tall and  the man was very short.

- France is super tiny.  It can be hard at times for him to stand and get places. Everyone stares at him because of his height. haha

Week 2 in France

Hello Everyone!!!


This week was definitely not as busy as the last.  This week I have been sick. It really stinks because you want to do so much more than your body will let you do.  I can testify that if you try to do more, out in the freezing cold, that you will just make yourself worse. haha  Just stay inside and get rest so you can work harder after you have recovered.  Sadly, I didn't do that one day...but I am feeling a lot better now, just in time for Christmas!!!

I had a Christmas miracle happen.  For the month of December our mission has a goal of baptizing one family for Christmas.  Elder Miller and I didn't have anyone of our amis that were getting baptized this month because the family that is going to be baptized was scheduled for the 4th of January.  Both of us were thinking and praying that we should move their baptism to the 28th of December.  Unfortunately, the family couldn't meet with us at all because they were so busy.  Satan was trying to stop us. We almost didn't think it was possible, then one night we finally met with the family and the father of the family (loan) said that they were going to be gone for the month of January so we would have to do the baptism on another date either before or after.  Elder Miller and I looked at each other and we decided that was the sign to do it on the 28th.  So the family is getting baptized on the 28th of December!!!  It was amazing!!! It is so cool to see how the Lord works.

So Merry Christmas!!! France is so amazing!!! I love it out here!!! It will be hard being away from the people I love but this is when we celebrate the birth day of Christ and he has helped me beyond what I could have imagined.  I love you all!  Have a great Christmas and celebrate the true meaning of Christ-mas!!!

Elder Peterson

These first two pictures are from the castle that overlooks Paris:

My trainer, Elder Miller, and Me

A view of the Chartres Cathedral

Missionary group picture

Me with President and Sister Poznanski

December 17, 2013

Week One in France

Hello Everyone!!!

I love and miss everyone!!!  Sorry I didn't get to write on my actual Pday.  We had Zone Conference on Monday so I am writing this on Tuesday! The first week in France has been really good!!! I will start from the beginning:

We arrived in France at 11:00ish on Dec. 10th. (We are 8 hours ahead of Utah).  I was really tired from not getting any sleep on the plane.  The Mission President and his wife picked us up and they greeted us with nice tasty chocolat du pain, which is pretty much bread with chocolate pieces in it.  It was really good.  We went from the airport to the church in Paris.  We took the metro (train) and on the metro we were supposed to contact people.  I was apprehensive to talk almost the whole time on the metro.  This one lady was sitting across from me reading her newspaper when this guy just went up and stole it from her. haha  After the man ran away, I said: "C'etait bizarre," which means "That was weird."  The lady and I laughed. haha  Right about that time I was about to share a message but we had to leave. Once we arrived to the Church we were introduced to everyone and they gave us an intro for our mission.  We then went and ate dinner and arrived to a hotel around 9:30pm where I went straight to bed.

On December 11th we went to a huge castle that overlooks Paris.  Paris is seriously so huge.  I had no idea.  We had the chance to write our thoughts about what we want to be as missionaries.  It was a very spiritual moment.  Afterwards, we went back to Church and we got to meet our trainers and where we are assigned.  Mine is Elder Miller.  He is really nice and works hard so that is really good. We then went and saw Notre Dame.  It was huge!  After that Elder Miller and I left for Chartres (my first area).  It is one hour southwest of Paris.  We are the only missionaries in Chartres and we cover other cities around this big city.  We did a bit a contacting which was fun and then we went to bed. 

Our apartment is super tiny. haha  Everything in France is super tiny so that is great for a tall guy like me. haha Thank goodness we have a car to get around to different cities, but we usually just walk places.

Here is my address:

Elder Evan Peterson

D5, rue des Reservoirs/Res Fleurie

28000

Chartres

France

December 12th.  We did so much contacting, like so much! haha Sadly everyone rejected us.  Later on that day we met one of our 8 amis (investigators). Loan and his family are so ready for baptism. Four of the seven family members are getting baptized on January 4th.  When we taught them I felt the spirit so much.  I realized that even though there are a lot of people here that don't want the truth, the people that do want it are extremely special in the eyes of God.  I felt the Love of Christ flow through my body to them.  I love our amis so much.  The word amis in French means "friends." I thought a lot about that.  We are supposed to love our investigators.  They are not just a baptism or a number.

December 13th.  We taught our four other amis.  The first one we taught was Maria.  She is an older lady from Portugal and is super nice.  We are going to be inviting her to baptism soon.  We then taught Louise, Gerard, and Nathanael (Louise's son).  Louise and Gerard are living together.  We taught them about Christ.  It didn't go too well because Gerard and Louise were mad at each other.  He isn't progressing while Louise is.

December 14th.  We did more contacting, still getting rejected but I have hope!  I know there is still someone out there.  We did a family home evening at the Fortineau's house (they are a huge young family and the mother served a mission in Utah) with Loan and his daughter and son.  That was really awesome. Loan felt the spirit so much.  Everyone thinks I look like Elvis Presley. haha  So I think it was Carlynn's mom, Sister Raubenheimer, who said I looked like him. haha  I guess she was right!!

December 15th, my first Sunday.  It was really good.  A lot of our amis went to church.  Loan and his family went as well as Maria.  I could tell the two of them loved church.  I introduced myself to the ward and that went pretty well.  I still don't understand people though. haha  After church we did more contacting and porte a porte (door to door).  Still no luck, but during all of that the spirit told us to visit Gerard and share a chapter with him.  I felt inspired to share Alma 32 (it talks about faith and knowing the truth)  He said we could come over and share with him.  We shared it and it was going great.  I shared my testimony at the end by saying that I know the Book of Mormon is true and if he reads the Book of Mormon, prays to God and asks him if this book is true he will know the truth.  The spirit was so strong and once again Christ's love was present for him.  At the end we asked him to pray and in his prayer he said he will do better in his and thank you for my testimony.  That was a really great day.

December 16th.  We had Zone Conference in Versailles.  We had to walk to the Gar (train station) in Chartres which is a 30 minute walk away from our apartment.  Then we arrived in Versailles after an hour on the train and had to walk another 30 minutes to the church.  At Zone Conference we had a couple of talks and we ate lunch there.  It was very nice.  Really spiritual. Then I got my 2 packages from my parents (thanks so much by the way). I had to carry those packages, which were heavy, all the way back to our apartment.  So everyone probably thought I was an idiot carrying big packages all across both cities. haha  It gave my arms a really good workout though.  It made me laugh.

Anyways, that was my really busy week.  I know it was very long.  Well family and friends. I love you so much!  Talk to you soon!!!

Elder Evan Peterson

This is at the Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris.

Below me and Elder Sanchez eating the bread with chocolate.

First day instruction:

Consecration Hill

Evan is the tall in the gray suit on the right:

 

Evan is the third from the left below:

Evan meeting his first trainer: Elder Miller 

Missionaries wishing us a Merry Christmas:

Evan with trainer..Elder Miller:

Practicing:

France Mission President Poznanski and his wife:

December 9, 2013 

Notes from mom:

Evan left for the SLC airport at 11:30 am with the other missionaries going to Paris.  It was a 10 hour direct flight.  They took off at 5:15 pm Monday and arrived in Paris at 11:30 am on Tuesday.

If you "like" the France Paris Mission Poznanski facebook page, you'll see updates every two weeks of the missionaries in Paris.

Below are pictures of his class and teachers as well as a picture of them doing a service project making over 350,000 lunches for those in need.  The first picture is with our teacher Soeur Chard and the second picture is with our other teacher Soeur Judd.