April 6, 2015

MY GOD'S NOT DEAD. (ROARING LIKE A LION)

General Conference was soooo dang good! It literally feels like a second Christmas. 

This week was so good for us and Angers! We have still been teaching Cesaire and Jean-Yves. Cesaire is still hard to teach now because of basketball and they are in the playoffs right now, but as soon as he finishes we are totally baptizing him. We will have to push the baptismal date though because we just haven't had anytime to see him. He told us he even knows it is true. He just has a lot of things going on with him.

Let me tell you about Jean-Yves though..haha. So last week on Sunday he received the "Principles of the Gospel" book and then he called us during the week and said that he read the whole book and that he had a lot of questions for us! haha So we go and meet him at the church and then he just starts off giving us his opinions about us and our beliefs. We then went on to explain to him that all of what we believe is in the Bible and that it comes through modern revelation. Then we just testified hard core about the only way he is going to find out if it is true is through reading the Book of Mormon and praying about it. It feels so good to testify of the things that are so simple but they make a great difference in all or our live. We only have to have a desire to know if the Church is true and then ask God and he will give us a response. And it is good to know that the formula always works! JeanYves is a super cool guy and he definitely keeps his engagements and I can tell that he really wants to know if the Church of Jesus Christ has been restored again on this earth.  So he is going to read the Book of Mormon and pray about it. :)

We have been doing a lot of service this week and we helped our old mission president's son move to his new house. That was fun and then afterwards we ate at our old mission president's house! It was cool to see Sister Poznanski! President Poznanski wasn't there because he is in Utah but I already saw him during my time here. It is pretty weird to see them as normal people now....haha

We saw a lot of cool miracles this week. I don't really have a specific one to tell but this week we have been focusing on praying more often and we saw some cool stuff with that. It was so amazing to see that after each prayer we said, we would find someone. Prayer really does work. It really puts us in the right mood and makes us prepared to be instruments in God's hands.

And guess what else happened this week!? We saw some lions! That is why I put in the weird title and it is a cool song too. 

Well that's about it. Zone Conference is this Wednesday so Elder Bailey and I are going to prepare for that. Love you all! Have a great week!!! Hakuna Mutata!

Elder Peterson

March 30, 2015

This week was so good, full of miracles but weird at the same time. 

We taught Cesaire one time this week. He has a baptismal date but has been really busy with bball which is a bummer. Pretty much this whole week we didn't see any of our other amis but we were able to find other people and teach them.

We did exchanges this week and I stayed in Angers with a new baby bleu. I was his first exchange. His name is Elder Young. We had a cool time and we taught this guy that Elder Bailey and I found our first week together. His name is Jean-Yves and he is cool. He is a middle-aged man and catholic. He was such a serious guy but super believing. I asked him what his last name was and he just said, "It's not important."...haha He didn't really talk and isn't too open but he really liked to learn about the Restoration. The lesson went really well and the spirit was there. The bleu was on fire too! He recited the whole first vision to Jean-Yves and the kid has only been out for 2 weeks. So that was a cool miracle. At the end of the rendez-vous I asked him if he can come to church and he said no. I asked him why and he said, "It's not important" again...haha. But after a little bit he asked me what time it started and then I asked him again if he was going to come and he said yes...haha :) And....guess what?? He came!!! He really liked it this Sunday! We are going to see him again later on this week! :D

Oh, the coolest thing happened this week too! So during the week, Elder Bailey and I got a call from this Tahitian member in Rennes and he told us that he has a friend (Temanue) in Angers that is interested to talk to us. The member in Rennes fixed a rendez-vous with him and he came to pick us up. We got to Temanue's house and when we went in they had BARBEQUE going for us!!! :D  IT WAS SOOOO GOOD. We talked to him about the priesthood and he told us that when he visited the Church with his friend in Rennes, he felt the spirit after he left the church. He is super believing and such an 
islander, just so happy and nice. But anyways, we talked about how the church was restored and then we gave him a blessing because he is having a hard time with his schooling. After the blessing he said his heart felt weird and good...haha. So cool!!! 

Another cool miracle this week was on Sunday. We went porting and we decided to go to a member's and pray with them and then go porting in their neighborhood. When we did the member's told us to go down after and visit their friends who lived down the street.  So we went down and then right when we get to their door we contacted this Asian guy. He said that he wanted to know more about Jesus Christ and why he is so important. We testified about Jesus Christ and fixed another rendez-vous with him. Sadly the member's friends weren't too interested but it was super cool to know that God puts his elect in our paths. :D

Anyways...That is pretty much about it. I love you and I hope you have a great week!!!

Au revoir!!
Elder Evan Peterson

March 23, 2015

THE DANGERS ZONE

Well, I am officially in my new area, The Dangers Zone...full of dangers and adventures, and LOVING IT!!!  This place is really good and my comp is a cool dude. His name is Elder Bailey. There are 3 companionships in Angers too. 2 companionships of Elders and 1 of Sisters. There is a ward here too and it is really big, so that is a big change for me since I've only served in small branches...haha.

Well....

This whole week we really have been soooo busy.

So first off, we have been teaching our amis and one of them is a guy named Cesaire. He is 17 and he plays basketball for a team in Angers. He is from Congo and he plays some dang good bball. He even has a baptismal date for the 12th of April. Cesaire is progressing well and is looking forward to his baptism. We had a FHE with him at a member's house and that was really good. Later on during the week we watched the Restoration with him and that rendez-vous was really powerful. The spirit was there and he said he knows the gospel is true. The only thing that would stop him from getting baptized is playing basketball on Sundays, but we're working on that with him.

We also met with this cool lady named Laura. She is really believing and we just talked about our message and how it is there to add things to people's lives. She really liked us and she is even friends with one the members here so that was fun teaching with her friend.

On Friday Elder Bailey and I went to mission council. It was really cool to see how things work and to just talk about the work with all the leaders and Mission President. The goal for the mission this time is to have each companionship find at least 3 new amis each week. When we arrived home after a long day in Paris, we planned and came up with some good goals for the Zone so that we might accomplish what the Lord wants us to do. Since the Church is really focusing on Easter and the "Because He Lives" message, we made our goals according to that and then we presented our Zone goals to the District Leaders so that they could give it to all the missionaries in the Zone. I am really excited for all this to come together.

Other than that we have been doing a lot of service and just teaching so it is really great!

I will let you know more next time because right now I am really hungry....:)

Love you all! Have a great week! :D

Elder Evan Peterson

Here are some pics:

1. Everyone in the apartment, from left to right: Elder Allen, Me, my comp and Elder Hogenson.

2. Me in the Bourges Cathedrale

3. Us cooking us some grub

March 16, 2015


A SWEET AND SOUR ENDING....LITERALLY.

Well....I am leaving this wonderful place to be a ZL in Angers! I am sad but I am also looking forward to what new surprise await for me! :)

The greatest thing happened this week!!!! MICHAEL GOT BAPTIZED!!!! :))))

Sunday was hard though. I told everyone I was leaving and then they asked me to give a final remark before I left. When I got up to the stand and started to bare my testimony, I just started to bawl. I never knew I would cry as hard as when I left my family back home but I guess I did it again when I left my family here. Bourges has really become my second home. I am going to miss everyone so much. They have become my family and I am so grateful to have served here for 6 months. The Lord has really blessed me here.

Anyways, after church we all had a nice lunch with all the Branch and then we left to go to Orleans for Michael's baptism! It was so nice. Everything was prepared and we took some pictures of all of us. Michael was baptized by a young priest here in Bourges. It was his first time so both him and Michael were a little scared, but everything went perfectly. The spirit was so strong there. You know, when we first started to teach Michael I would have never guessed that he would be the one to get baptized. I guess we never know who is truly ready and is truly seeking the truth. He has made so much progress. He has really put his faith in our Heavenly Father by taking those steps that lead to baptism and through that he was able to find himself and find God. This place has changed my life. I will never forget what beautiful miracles I have seen here.

Today, some of the members, Michael, and us went to a nice Asian buffet. So guess it literally was a "SWEET & SOUR" ending...haha. It was so so much more sweet though. :)

Have a good week everyone. Love ya!
Bisous!!!
Elder Evan Peterson

Picture 1 - End of the transfer pic with the District.  2 - Michael's baptism.  3 - Asian buffet!

March 9, 2015


I AM SUCH A FUNGI....HAHA


Well....Satan thinks he is a fun guy...but he is not. He has been doing some not so funny things this week.

First of all...he made me get a small skin fungus infection, but it isn't anything too serious. I went to the doctor and they said it is caused by stress but I am not even stressed at all...haha!  But it was pretty funny when I first saw this small rash on my back. At first we thought it was bed bug bites so we started to freak out! Then we found out that we didn't have bed bugs and so we started to think that I had chickenpox and then soon my mind told me that I had skin cancer. I was going a little overboard though...haha. Just know that yours truly is now a fungi! I always wanted to be a fungi and now here is my chance. Get it? Fun guy? Fungi? haha yeah....

But for real, Satan is even going against Michael a week before his baptism! Michael told us that his Dad had to get surgery on his eye. During the surgery there were some complications so his Dad lost his whole right eye. It was pretty sad. During church this week Michael just started to cry. I felt so sorry for him but I know he is a trooper and Satan isn't stopping him from getting baptized. :)

Other than us freaking out and Michael, things are going okay. We weren't able to see too many of our amis but the rest are doing good. Sadly Octave said he needs to reflect on some things so he said he will call us when he feel like he is ready. Things are still looking good in Bourges and the whole Branch is soooo excited for Michael's baptism this Sunday!!! :D

This week I read a talk from Elder Holland. It was titled, "None were with Him." If you haven't read it you need to! It i really good. He talks about how Jesus was all alone during the end of his life and because he walked that lonely path we don't have to. That made me think of one of my favorite scriptures that God has given us. It is D&C 122:7-9...  

"And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.

The Son of Man hath descended below them all. art thou greater than he?

Therefore, hold on thy way, and the priesthood shall remain with thee; for their bounds are set, they cannot pass. Thy days are known, and thy years shall not be numbered less; therefore, fear not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever."

Every time I feel like I want to give up or complain I remember this phrase, "The Son of Man has descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?" That phrase means a lot to me. During the most painful parts of Hiss life, not once did Christ complain or give up. Even when he was betrayed and denied by the ones that were the most close to him, he kept moving forward. So when we have times of trouble or of doubt, we need to remember the example of Jesus Christ and how He has been through a lot worse and that through Him we can make it through our worst times.

Well...I hope you guys will have a good week! Love you all!!!!
a plus mes pamplemousses!!! :D

Elder Evan Peterson

Here are some pics thanks to the selfie pole. We are eating Indian food and yes, that is A&W root beer and no, I have no idea how the member found that for us. :) The second picture is taken looking out our apartement.

February 30, 2015

SURPRISE!!!

Well....for this week I am going to put "surprise" as the title because this week was full of surprises both good and bad!!! :D

Let's start off with Tuesday....that was an interesting day. That was when Jean Paul, the ami with a baptismal date, dropped us hard core. He said he couldn't continue because he was too sick. So that was really depressing and unexpected. Later on that night, we went over to Michael's house and he gave us a scare too.

We went over there and talked about his baptism because we needed to change it to the 15th instead of the 14th because there is a meeting on the 14th with all the leaders in the stake. Anyways, at first he said to drop the date because he didn't feel ready. I have to admit I was sooooooo sad when he said that. We have been working with this guy for a long time and we have been praying for him for a long time too. So to hear him say that he wanted to drop the date was so hard. After that we just told him to pray and ask God if all of this is true and if he should get baptized on the 15th. He said he hasn't done that yet so he said he would. He felt the spirit during church but he hasn't asked God if it is all true! No wonder he doesn't feel ready! So we really got on him to ask God!

So the week went on and Elder Nez and I saw a lot of cool miracles despite our surprises on Tuesday. To our surprise we were able to find 7 new amis!!!! :D As good old Joe Smith said, "Sometimes God brings us low in order to lift us higher!" You said it Joseph! haha. But anyways...two of those amis were a mother and her two young boys. We ported into her and asked if we could pray with her. She let us in and told us how her husband just barely left her and her family. We comforted her and shared the Plan of Salvation. She really liked it and she said we were a sign from God because she said that she has been praying for help ever since her husband left them. It feels really nice to know that through you, God answered a person's prayer.

Later on this past week we saw Michael again. We were so worried he wouldn't want to get baptized anymore. But we saw the coolest miracle. Michael said he prayed and that right after he asked God if everything was true and if he should get baptized. He felt the spirit and he got his answer!!!! When he told us that we both couldn't stop smiling. :) God really does keep his promises and he really does answer prayers if you have real intentions, a sincere heart, and faith in Jesus Christ! :) So that was another huge surprise and Michael is still good for the 15th of March!!!

And another beautiful surprise happened this Sunday!! We had stake conference and I was able to see the members in Chartres, my blue ville!!! I was able to see my recent convert, Borris Ekedi!!! I haven't seen him for a whole year!!! He is still going strong in the church! It was so nice to see him and everybody again. It reminded me how much I am grateful for being an instrument in Heavenly Father's hands and how much I miss Chartres.

Well....surprise guys!!! :D Have a great week and remember to always look for those oh so beautiful surprises that God sends your way! :)

Love ya! Until next time!

Elder Evan Peterson

p.s. Here are the pictures. The first is Borris, then me on a tower, and then my new planner art.

February 23, 2015

TEACHIN' D'EM YOUNG BLOODS

It seems like all of our amis are young Frenchmen.  I just realized that this week, so we are teachin' d'em young bloods as Uncle Drew would put it!!!

This week was really good. We were able to find this young French guy whose name is Renaud.  We contacted him and fixed a rendez-vous for the next day. We went to his house and shared the Restoration with him. He seems really cool and he had a question if he ever needed to be baptized, so we gave him good old 2 Nephi 31 for him to read.

Our ami, Octave, is soooo cool. We just found out that he speaks English perfectly...haha. We showed him the Restoration video in English and afterwards he is just using all of these complicated words that I don't even know in English. After we show him the video we asked him what he thought about it and he said that it is real: The Book of of Mormon, Joseph Smith, and everything. That was so cool to hear! :D  Our lessons with him are so great. He said he felt that it was true just by reading the first pages of the Book of Mormon! He isn't sure about baptism because he is afraid that he will be a "cast away" because his family hates religion and they don't believe in God. Next week, we are going to really help him accept to be baptized because he is Golden! :D

Other than that, Michael is doing awesome.  He's agreeing to everything and coming to FHE as well as church. Sadly we weren't able to see out other ami with the baptismal date because he was super sick this week. Thomas, our other Frenchman ami is doing great too!

A lot of cool things are happening in Bourges! It is hard to write about all or our amis. There is just so much to say. It is just so crazy how, through the Lord, you can find anybody anywhere. It doesn't matter what ccountry you are in, or what language you speak, or how big your area is, or if you are in a branch or a ward. The list goes on and on, but the one thing I know is that if you work and put your faith in God you can find people that are looking for the truth.

Well, I will let you go! I love ya guys!!! Have a good week doing our Heavenly Father's work!

Elder Evan Peterson