I can actually sing that song now haha.

Talofa Everybody!

It amazes me how much Christmas Spirit the people here have. I mean, there are 364 days till Christmas and people already have their Christmas lights up! 

Merry Christmas! I hope you all had a great day yesterday. I love Christmas because we celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. He loves us all so much! That's why He came to earth. To teach us; to help and allow us to return to the presence of our loving Heavenly Father. Without our Savior, we would have no hope for a better life after this one. Without our Savior, there would be no reason for us to be here. God loved us so He sent His Son! I love my Big Brother Jesus Christ. I know He loves me too and that He loves all of us! 

This week was a fun week. We had some fun Christmas things that we did. Yesterday was a blast getting to talk to the fam bam. I miss you all so much! 

This week we had a Zone Meeting in Canandaigua. That was great getting to see everyone and to learn from others. We gave a training on planning and teaching. Both of which play big roles in missionary work. 

Funny experience of the week. Well, there are two that I'll share. The first one happened when we were going door to door. We knocked on one house and this super old guy answered the door. Like we're talking OLD! He said, "I can't see ya." As he got uncomfortably close to see if he could see us. But he was almost totally blind because of age. When we spoke, he looked at us with his toothless mouth gaping open. "I can't hear you!" Haha then his wife or someone came to the door and told us that they were all set. But it was just funny. Later on that same hour, we had just found someone who was really nice and said we could come back. I wasn't really focused on walking as we were walking away because I was so happy that we found someone that was open. We walked down the driveway and all of a sudden, my feet slipped out from under me and I hit the ground HARD! All I could do was laugh at myself. Because laughing relieves pain lol. Stinkin' ice. 

Another funny experience, we were meeting with a member family and they were telling us about how the guy who invented the Heimlich maneuver died. Without thinking, I asked, "Oh no! Did he choke?!" Haha 

The Mission Christmas Conference was off da hook! I loved it! My district performed the Hukilau everyone loved it. I got to see all my homies that I've served around and been companions with. I love those guys. You really do learn a lot from all those who surround you. President Evans closed the conference by teaching about the Sacrament and the importance of preparing ourselves to partake of it every week. There were many missionaries who shared beautiful musical numbers to bring the Spirit. (Shout out to Elder Stokes for rockin it on the piano!) Spirit was so strong the whole time there. It was great!

I learned so much about my Savior this week as we prepared ourselves to partake of the Sacrament. My Savior is my best friend and He is the best friend to all of us. He knows exactly how to help all of us. I know He loves all of us and that He continues to show us His love as we keep His commandments and serve Him. 

I miss you all so much! Thanks for the love and support that you give me eve day. You all rock! It's was a bummer not being able to be home wi you guys for Christmas this year, but remember: "I'll be home for Christmas" 😎🎄🎅

Much Love

Elder Peters 

1-2 Hukilau performance at the Christmas Conference

3-4 Zone Meeting 

5 Lunch with Sister Delair and Sister Reitmann and Elder and Sister Matthews

6 Sacred Grove after a meeting in Palmyra

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Light the World

Hey You Guys! 

Check out Mormon.org to see how you can #LightTheWorld. Each and every day leading up to Christmas there is a different theme of how we can be more like Jesus and spread the real Christmas spirit this Christmas season. I have seen my testimony of the Savior grow as I have been participating in this wonderful event. It's great. Go check it out! Let me know how everything goes! 

We had a stellar week here in New York. Lots of cool things happening. Transfers are tomorrow, we were told where we are going last night. Elder Broadhead and i are staying here in Waterloo! I love being here in Waterloo! I'm glad they kept us here.

This week we went on a couple exchanges with some elders in Canandaigua and Geneva. I went with Elder Holmes and then Elder Leon. We saw many miracles this week as we worked hard. (I know that I always say that there are miracles happening, but there are! The Lord keeps blessing us more and more everyday) 

A really cool miracle that happened this week happened when I was on exchanges with Elder Leon. We were pulling in to our driveway after doing some service that morning. I saw a lady who looked like she and another person were struggling with moving some things into her house. I felt prompted to go and talk to her. So we did. It was really awkward to initiate conversation, but as soon as I said, "hi! We saw you were moving. Could you use any help?" She looked at us and quickly said, "oh my gosh are you Mormons?!" I thought she was going to say something mean or something. "I was married to a Mormon!" Turns out her husband was Mormon but he had passed on. She told us that he had come to her in a dream and told her that everything was going to be alright. She is struggling through cancer. She had a friend in the hospital that day who was receiving her first chemo treatment. She had a deadline to meet to clear out everything from her storage unit and not much help. God led us to her. She was so happy and overwhelmed and she felt God's love really strong that day. She just kept sayinthank you the whole time we were there. She was even brought to tears as she realized how much God had blessed her. And all we did was help her move! God knows us all and what we are going through. The coolest thing is that He know just how to help us feel better. I love my Heavenly Father! I know He loves me. I know He loves you guys! 

Rick and Yvonne came to church this week! They loved it! I love those guys so much. Things are going well for them. Thanks for all the prayers in their behalf! Your prayers are felt here! 

I love you guys so much! Thanks for all you do for me and for everyone around you! Keep on being good example of Christ! I love you all so much! Have a great week. I'll talk to you soon. 

Elder Peters 

Splittin' Wood and Sippin' Cider

Hey You Guys! 

Wow. It's November. I have officially been out for a whole year! I think this experience beats scout camp just a little in the longest amount of time I've been away from home. Although, I am beginning to feel as if this is home now. New York is awesome. Especially western New York! I love the people here, I love the weather, the trees, the lakes, and so much more! It's a great place. 

This week was great! We had a lot of spiritual experiences that I really grew from. Things are great here. The Lord has blessed me with so many things that I will always be grateful for. God is so good.

This week Elder Broadhead and I drove up to Pittsford for MLC or Mission Leadership Council. Basically, all the zone leaders, sister training leaders, and President Evans and his assistants all got together and discussed how we can better help the mission be more successful. President gave us a couple trainings. He is such a stud. He is awesome! He taught us about obedience and if we as leaders are exactly obedient, we can help the culture of the mission to be more obedient. Which will then bring about much more success in the mission because the Lord will bless us more. MLC was a blast. 

We have been doing a lot of going around in our area trying to figure out who is who since we are both new to this area. We visited a lady in a senior home named Sister Delair. We played skip bo (a card game) with her. And man was that her jam. She loves that game! Her and her friends play a lot. We were playing and either I or Elder Broadhead would make a good move or ruin her plans for the game and she gave us the coldest old lady stare down haha. It was so funny cuz she is the nicest old lady but you just gotta let her win haha. 

Elder Broadhead and i went down to Hornell which is an hour and a half drive south (our zone is the biggest zone area wise) to give a training at their district meeting. I got to see Elder Gardner! It was a fun reunion and it was a blast getting to spend time with the missionaries here. I loved so much to hear their testimonies and the inspired work that they are doing in their respective areas. Elder Broadhead and i gave a training on love. We taught about how we should love those that we serve because they arent going to care how much we know until they know how much we care. It was a good time. 

Saturday morning we went and helped a bunch of the men in the ward split some wood. They were on the older end of the age spectrum. Elder Broadhead and i were doing a lot of the lifting and moving and such. Sister Wheeler made us some good "hot mold(?) cider" that was almost like apple cider it was yummy. The next day during fast and testimony meeting we got a lot of shoutouts from the old guys, "and thank goodness for the elders! They were lifting some pieces of wood that hurt my back just watchin them!" Haha it was a good time. I love serving others. 

Yesterday was awesome. At MLC on Friday, President Evans challenged us to prepare a question to be answered as we attended Sacrament Meeting. So i did and i received many answers to my question! It was awesome! So that is my challenge for you guys this week. Write down a question that you have had on your heart and ask the Lord to answer it. Because i know He will as we study our scriptures and pray and serve others and attend church. 

I love you all! I hope you have a great week! You all really are in my prayers and my heart. Have a great week and i will talk to you soon! 

Elder Peters

Hey from Waterloo! 

Hope you all had a fantastic week. My week has been hectic but it's been great. 

On Tuesday, Elder Gardner and I went up to  Amherst (Buffalo Stake Center) to meet with all the other missionaries in Buffalo for transfers. Elder Gardner and I hopped in the mission van and we all road tripped out to Pittsford. There, I met up with my new companion Elder Broadhead and we drove out to our area after we took care of some zone stuff. 

Waterloo is great! This was previously a sister missionary area. So a lot of people are confused when we answer the phone haha. I guess they don't expect to hear our deep voices haha. But Waterloo is a great area. I am so excited be here serving super close to Palmyra. 

This week we went on exchanges with the assistants to the president. Elder Gibby came here to Waterloo with me! It was great. We spent a lot of time out in Batavia together so it was easy for us to work hard together. We went and found a couple new investigators that seem promising!

We went to the ward Halloween party at the church. It was fun. We took a district Halloween pic. We got to know the ward pretty well. I am already loving the people here. Their awesome. Definitely different from Orchard Park but it's fun. 

This area is so beautiful. We drive around Seneca Lake all the time because we live in Geneva and our area is Waterloo. So it's a really pretty drive. The finger lakes are so pretty. Seneca and Cayuga lakes are the biggest. And Waterloo is equidistant from both! It's sweet. 

This week I had the opportunity to speak in church. I spoke on the talk from General Conference a few years ago by Sister Ann M. Dinn entitled, "I Know It, I Live It, I Love It". It's a great talk. I spoke about the phrase, "I Believe". I was so stinkin nervous to speak in front of the new Ward. I didn't know if I had enough things to talk about but I ended up going and speaking for 20 minutes! Oops haha. Oh well. 

I miss you guys so much! I hope you guys have a great week. I love you all! I will talk to you soon! 

Elder Peters

Gird up your Loins!

Hey Everyone! 

We were so busy this week! We had lots of service activities. We did anything and everything from moving fridges to hanging dry wall. We got to teach quite a bit too! It was a great week! I loved it. 

Wednesday night was cool. The youth had an activity planned where they would go on splits with us. So We took a youth with us and split up and were able to do twice the amount of work we would've been able to do that night. I took JoshHunter with me and went and street contacted on a main intersection in Orchard Park. We talked to some people and shared a little bit with them. No one was really interested but we were able to share a little bit of what we stand for. We had a funny experience with contacting someone. We were sitting at an intersection waiting for the light to change so we could cross when I saw someone walking their dog down the street. We went over and tried to talk to her. When she saw us coming, she tried to escape by walking her dogs into the 7 Eleven parking lot. I reached out and said, "How are you doing tonight maam?" She replied awkwardly, "good...How are you?" I could kinda tell she didn't want to talk but I asked anyways, "Could we ask a quick question?" She said, "No not right now...I have my dogs with me." That was probably one of the lamest excuses I have ever heard ever. We had a good laugh about it afterward haha. It was fun. 

We had a lady who we taught over the phone last week meet us at the church with our ward mission leader. Elder Gardner and Elder Davis taught her with Brother Prasad while I was on exchanges for the day. But they were able to give her a tour of the church and teach her a lesson there. She committed to be baptized in November! Super cool! The Lord has blessed us with people to teach because of our hard work! 

Oh! This week I went over to the Schmidt family's house for dinner and Brother Schmidt found out that my favorite food is crab so he bought some king crab and we chewed down! I was so happy haha. It was a dream come true. 

This week will probably be my last in Orchard Park :( Transfers are next week, I have been here for six months, and Elder Gardner is done being trained so everything points to me leaving when we get the calls next week! It's a bummer but we're gonna get out there and work hard this week! 

Things are good here. Thanks for all the prayers everyone! You guys are the best! Have a great week! I love and miss you all! 

Elder Peters 

P.s. I gave a training this week on "girding up your loins" by planning and setting goals that will help us achieve our purpose. It was fun. Then I passed out some lava lavas sent from home. Don't mess with our district! Haha love you guys 

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 Happy Fall Everyone!

This week was the most successful week of my mission! We saw so many miracles in our area and in our district! We have 8 people who are preparing for baptism! The Lord is blessing us so much because of our faith! Its great to see! 

This week we visited and taught one of our investigators named Evan. He is in his early twenties. We met him tracting a while ago. In the past, he has had negative feelings/ideas about God. But recently, he has been praying a lot more and meeting with us and has become a lot more positive about God! Its truly amazing how much prayer and scripture study help us. We met with him a couple times this week and he committed to be baptized! He committed to prepare to be baptized on October 29th! Which sadly, i might not be here... but thats not what matters! What matters is him deciding to follow in Christ's footsteps and be baptized by proper Priesthood authority! Evan is doing great. I think he really enjoys meeting with us. 

This week fall started! Its been getting a little chilly here. So, we had to whip out the sweaters the other day. I love sweater weather. Its real refreshing because all summer we have been sweating like pigs because of the humidity. But thats what the weather is like here :) 

I had the opportunity to go on exchanges with Elder Marks this week to his area. We taught a cool guy named Rotex who is all about God. He loves to talk about the Gospel. He is from Nigeria too. That was cool. But i think the coolest part about my exchange with Elder Marks was teaching a less active member named Richard Thrift. Richard joined the church in the UK (he has the coolest accent btw). He has been inactive for 22 years! We went and visited with him and he ended up coming to church yesterday!!! He is so solid and is really wanting to get back in to the church and becoming active again. 

I cannot explain how much the Lord has blessed us and our district lately. 

We also met with Abby and Patrick this week. We met with their friend Gina who just moved in with them. We taught them and Gina committed to being baptized! We just have to continue to work with them on following the Word of Wisdom. The work is moving forward! Im glad to be part of it!

I got to hold a chicken this week! Cool experience! I kinda want one now...

This week we received a challenge to read some chapters in the Book of Mormon and in the Bible. Hebrews 11, Alma 32, Ether 12, and the Bible Dictionary: Faith. As you can tell, these chapters teach us about faith. Hebrews 11 talks about things that faith enables us to do. Alma 32 gives the great analogy of faith being like a seed, if planted it will grow. The Bible Dictionary had a great definition of faith as well. But the chapter that stood out to me the most was Ether 12 in the Book of Mormon. What a great chapter! I learned so much as i read. I really like how it says multiple times throughout the chapter that it isnt until AFTER the trial of our faith that we receive a witness. I love that we arent going to be given everything. We have to work for it! As we show our faith through scripture study and prayer and church attendance and serving others, we are showing the Lord our faith in Him and he will bless. He will ALWAYS bless us. I know it because ive seen it in my life! 

Anyways, I love you all! Thank you so much for all you do and the prayers that you see my way. I hope you have a great week this week. I know that as we continue to rely on the Lord, He will always bless. ESPECIALLY in time of need! 

I love you all! I will talk to you soon! Have a blessed week and keep up the great work! 

P.s. Here's a chicken  🐔

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Stay Strong, Get Stronger!

Hello Everyone! 

Before I get to updating you on my week, I would just like to take a little time and tell the Shanklin family that I love them and that they are in my prayers. Im so sorry for your loss. But I know that you will be together with your Dad again! Families truly are forever! I know that with all my heart. The happiness that comes when you are with your family does not end here. The Lord made it possible for us to have that happiness forever! I love you guys! Stay strong! 

This week was a good week. We have been behind on miles because of transfers and because our zone leaders had to take some of our allotted miles and give them to some other missionaries. But it's all good. That just means a little more walking than we have been used to! So, we walked a lot this week! 

We have been teaching a Filipino lady named Abby and her husband Patrick! It's been great! They love talking with us. I think the hardest thing for him to do is quit smoking and to leave their church. They are extremely involved in it. But we will see. The Lord is definitely capable of working miracles. Sometimes in life we just have to ask ourselves if we have the faith to see miracles. 

Stay Strong, Get Stronger!

Yesterday in church someone said, "Stay strong, get stronger." That is so true! With working out and exercising, you always have to be doing something to continue to build muscle or endurance or stamina. Or you will lose it. The same goes with faith. If we are doing everything we can to build it, once we have strong faith, we have to continue to do things to build our faith or we will lose it! Faith is so necessary in our lives to rely on the Savior and trust in Him. He will guide us back to the presence of our Father in Heaven. 

We got some more newbies in our district this week! Elder Gold is from Boise, Idaho and Elder Davis is from Overland Park, Kansas! I used to live there too! It's super cool. Elder Olson is the other new missionary but he's not new to the mission. He just got transferred to our district. We are having so much fun because guess what?! Rather than just having four missionaries in our district, we now have six! So you know what that means....3 on 3 basketball!!! It's super fun haha.  The other morning we were playing and Elder Gardner threw an alley oop to Elder Gold and he threw it down with two hands! We are confident that we can take any district in the mission! Haha

We had a leadership meeting in Amherst this week as well. All the leaders in the Buffalo area went and met with President Evans. He is so awesome.  He wrote out a phrase on the chalkboard and had us ponder and finish it. The phrase was "When I am obedient, I see the Savior..." I thought about it for a while. The way I finished the sentence was, "When I am obedient, I see the Savior smile." Sometimes in life it is hard for us to see why the Lord has given us certain commandments. But, when we picture Him smile when we obey and when we make righteous decisions, it is easier for us to obey. Remember that we are and always will be indebted to Him. But when we do the small things that He asks of us, He smiles.

I love you all! I hope you have a great week! I will talk to you soon! 

HARRAH FOR ISRAEL!

Elder Peters

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