I have arm wrestled a 78 yr old
This was actually like a month ago and I did not beat her, nor did she beat me. I can't tell if I have the strength of a 78 yr old, or she has the strength of a 20 yr old! WOOHOO!
First off, let me tell you about the best Zone Pday everrrr. Our zone (of about 12 people) met at a park behind Nagano stations with WATERGUNS. We had waterguns, buckets, monkey masks, and a hottt sunnnn. It was a very fun day of bonding and missionary approved water games hehe.
We went to Matsumoto for exchanges this week and as always I had the best time. Let me tell you about Matsumoto.
Oguchi ε§ε¦Ή (78ish yrs old) is an inactive member who the Matsumoto sisters have been visiting for a LONGGG TIMEEE. I feel I have also gotten close with her the couple times I have visited her. She is so perfect. She went to church last week after not having have gone for 50 YEARS. More than double my lifetime. I'm so proud of the sisters have have kept nurturing and loving her. I am also grateful to have made a relationship with her. She texts me every so often and keeps telling me she will always reach out to me as long as she is alive. We made "10 years from now" plans with her, sang for her, arm wrestled her, measured eachother's heights (apparently I am the same height as her husband. She kept calling me "Otto Peterson" aka Husband Peterson... :/) chatted with her, and came closer to Christ with her.
Can I just say right now, thank you Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father for bringing and strengthening these relationships in my life. I trully feel so blessed and lucky.
The same old has been going on here in Nagano. We work our hardest in the blazing heat and trust Heavenly Father is magnifying our efforts.
One day we came back from visiting some people in the morning and found our amazing elders on our doorstep with a watermelon for us!!! It was a very happy time. We each later ate half a watermelon, then made some reaallll nice helmets. 
Unfortunately Wentz ε§ε¦Ή isn't a huge fan of watermelon. Which is actually fortunate because I get to eat her whole half too! Heheheheh.
Japan tips!!I love Japan
While with Crockett ε§ε¦Ή (both of us being at the end of our missions) we talked a bit about how we feel guilty about some times where maybe we didn't work as hard as we could have since being on the mission. During our companion study, we read 3 Nephi 27
We both looked at eachother with burning in our hearts and said this is God speaking to us know. We have a loving Heavenly Father who is REAL. He is real as much as your own parents. And someday we will stand face to face with him and while we might be scared, He will look at us with tears in His eyes and a smiling face and say "my joy is great, even unto fulness, because of you". Everyone, write it down, Avynlea Jem Peterson knows this to be true. I know this is the character of our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ too! I bare this witness in the name of Jesus Christ, amen. WEE
First off, let me tell you about the best Zone Pday everrrr. Our zone (of about 12 people) met at a park behind Nagano stations with WATERGUNS. We had waterguns, buckets, monkey masks, and a hottt sunnnn. It was a very fun day of bonding and missionary approved water games hehe.We went to Matsumoto for exchanges this week and as always I had the best time. Let me tell you about Matsumoto.I know I have talked about Rintarou before. While I was in a trio with the Matsumoto sisters, we talked to Rintarou (17ish yrs old) and his friend, invited them to a church activity, and they came!! Rintarou has since built really good relationships with the missionaries and the members. There was a little bit of time they were worried because it seemed like he was slipping away a bit. Until... he wants to go to FSY... HE IS GOING TO FSY!!! His mother signed him all up. (FSY is a couple day long church camp type of thing). I'm really excited for him. Even though I have not been there for most his teaching, I feel close to him. Please pray for him.
Oguchi ε§ε¦Ή (78ish yrs old) is an inactive member who the Matsumoto sisters have been visiting for a LONGGG TIMEEE. I feel I have also gotten close with her the couple times I have visited her. She is so perfect. She went to church last week after not having have gone for 50 YEARS. More than double my lifetime. I'm so proud of the sisters have have kept nurturing and loving her. I am also grateful to have made a relationship with her. She texts me every so often and keeps telling me she will always reach out to me as long as she is alive. We made "10 years from now" plans with her, sang for her, arm wrestled her, measured eachother's heights (apparently I am the same height as her husband. She kept calling me "Otto Peterson" aka Husband Peterson... :/) chatted with her, and came closer to Christ with her. Can I just say right now, thank you Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father for bringing and strengthening these relationships in my life. I trully feel so blessed and lucky.The same old has been going on here in Nagano. We work our hardest in the blazing heat and trust Heavenly Father is magnifying our efforts. One day we came back from visiting some people in the morning and found our amazing elders on our doorstep with a watermelon for us!!! It was a very happy time. We each later ate half a watermelon, then made some reaallll nice helmets. Unfortunately Wentz ε§ε¦Ή isn't a huge fan of watermelon. Which is actually fortunate because I get to eat her whole half too! Heheheheh.Japan tips!!- when you are at a crosswalk, people will like slam on their breaks to stop and let you cross. It is very polite.
- Shredded cabbage is everywhere. It is always served with like anything. Just plain shredded cabbage. You can throw some yummy dressing on it though and it is very tasty
- If a train conductor sees someone running for a train, they will wait. Even reopen doors sometimes after they've already been closed. Bus drivers too are very helpful and will wait for you!
- γγγγ¨γγγγγΎγ (ari-gatoe-go-zai-moss) the correct and polite way to say "thank you" *use this when travelling*
I love JapanWhile with Crockett ε§ε¦Ή (both of us being at the end of our missions) we talked a bit about how we feel guilty about some times where maybe we didn't work as hard as we could have since being on the mission. During our companion study, we read 3 Nephi 27"30 And now, behold, my joy is great, even unto fulness, because of you, and also this generation; yea, and even the Father rejoiceth, and also all the holy angels, because of you and this generation; for none of them are lost.
31 Behold, I would that ye should understand; for I mean them who are now alive of this generation; and none of them are lost; and in them I have fulness of joy."
We both looked at eachother with burning in our hearts and said this is God speaking to us know. I think it is so easy in life to dwell on the times where we have messed up. I look back on the last year and a half of my life and honestly that is mainly what I see. The times where I have fallen short or could have done better. Reading this scripture really opened my eyes to who Heavenly Father really is and who He wants us to be. He does not dwell on the mistakes we have made, but rejoices in our successes. He looks back on my time I have spent in Japan and is proud of the gospel I have shared. He recognizes and sees the tiny things that I have forgotten.
We have a loving Heavenly Father who is REAL. He is real as much as your own parents. And someday we will stand face to face with him and while we might be scared, He will look at us with tears in His eyes and a smiling face and say "my joy is great, even unto fulness, because of you". Everyone, write it down, Avynlea Jem Peterson knows this to be true. I know this is the character of our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ too! I bare this witness in the name of Jesus Christ, amen. WEEGod loves you
I love you!
Make it a good week!!
<3 Sister Avynlea Jem Peterson
07/28/2025
Just, yes.
Watermelon helmets
Nagano Japan in all its perfectness
Oguchi ε§ε¦Ή！
Rintarou to the left, his friend to the right.
Nagano Zone
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