High Adventure

Kefford went on High Adventure with the boys in the ward and I don't know much about the trip other then the hiking was hard but they all had a good time 

Kefford

 

Nails, Quilts and Escape Room

I got my nails done by Brynn and I love them so much! I love the bright colors and the cute tiny fruit on each nail, She always does such a good job

I made a Halloween quilt and a 4th of July quilt both of which I am super proud of and really love!

Ryker and Anna went on a cruise for their honeymoon which didn't happen until the end of July. They went on the same Mexico cruise that we went on in December and had a lot of fun. Ryker sent us a picture they had taken after doing an escape room on the ship with 8 other strangers. They had fun but the large guy in the green shirt really got on their nerves with his bossiness and need to control the room

 

Sister Peterson Week 72

Rainbows, bugs, and Jesus Freaks

**prepare for the really long email**

 The most amazing thing in my life happened. We saw the most beautiful double rainbow. After watching these rainbows grow for a while, the first one connected and became A FULL RAINBOW! My even more favorite thing that happened in the moment was looking around to see all the busy Japanese people stopping, taking a picture, and smiling. I love humans. These are the moments I live for. When everyone can appreciate a gift from God all together!

 As we were keaving Nagano 駅, I sparked up a conversation with this really kind lady named Kondouさん. We talked to her for a long while and eventually bonded over the fact we both believe in Jesus Christ (a rare thing in Japan). We left her with a Pamphlet and invite to church. The next day we were leaving the station the same way and saw her again! We sat down for a while and just talked to her and got to know her.

She told is she lived in a really small part of town and her community had just "kicked her out". Meaning no one should interact with her. 

LIKE WHAT IS THAT THIS IS LITERALLY 2025 NOT THE SALEM WITCH TRIALS.

We invite her to church again and I hope she comes someday. To the church where anyone is welcome and everyone is growing together. 

Uncle Morio took us all out for lunch and of course it was a good time. He is an eikaiwa friend who always laughs at us when we try to approach him with anything gospel. Before our meal we asked him to pray and of course he laughed and said "I don't know how". With a huge grin on his face, Elder Donovan whipped out a Pamphlet and flipped to the page explaining prayer. After explaining, Morio said the most simple prayer. Maybe to him it didn't mean anything, but to the rest of us and to God, it meant everything. This is how mission work here is most the time. Tiny tiny steps that have a bigger impact than we all know. We love Uncle Morio aka Muncle.

 We attended the Protestant "Jesus Freaks" Bible study and it was good! 2 hours straight of this man preaching to us in Japanese. I made a friendship bracelet in the time haha. Anyways, we made friends with a girl named Hana who was telling us all these plans she had for her life, but after much prayer she realized that some things weren't in God's plan for her. Her testimony of trusting in God's plan really touched my heart. God trully loves and knows each of His children.

 The worst part of the night happened when we were walking a ways back to our bikes with the elders. Naive little me was telling Elder Donovan he is a scaredy cat if he didn't pick up this HUGE bug. "Well now I have to" he said. And he did. And he started CHASING THE REST OF US. We were all running then he said he wouldn't throw it... until after 5 sec. I stopped running and realized what he said. But it was too late. He already got to 5. The next thing I know, this bug had left his hand. Came right at me and LANDED ON MY CHEEK. I SWEAR THERE WERE SOME LEGS IN MY MOUTH. Don't worry, I got the bug off, but literally was the worst experience of my life. Traumatized. I can still remember the feeling of this GINORMOUS BUG ON MY FACE. 

Moral of the story: don't ever think an elder will not do something, especially after you call them a scaredy cat.

this is a long email, Japan tips will return next week!

I listened to the most recent BYU Speech by Sister Jara and you guys, I say this everytime, but LISTEN TO IT!!

https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/sherami-l-jara/fear-not-little-flock/

One of my fav things she says is after she reads Alma 32:27

"...exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words."

She talks about how hard it is sometimes to have faith. To trust in God's timing or even that He is there to help you. I think there can be a little guilt to when we question things like this. But God knows this is natural, the scriptures even say it's okay. If all you have is a DESIRE to believe and that's all you can give, then keep that. Trust in that and slowly let your faith grow again. Trials are meant to push us, bend us, and strengthen us. We are not supposed to be perfect through them. Hold on to your desire to trust in God and don't feel guilty if that's all you can give!

He knows you

He loves you

This is my favorite thing to teach people!

I love you all and I know you are a worthy Child of God!

Make it a great week!

<3 Peterson Shimai

07/21/2025

Takeshi 

Ya.

Squad

Yum yum Tonkatsu and Eel with Muncle!

Half Asian Asian squat! (Her mom is Japanese)

Sister Peterson Week 71

At least we aren't in NagoyaCatch phrase of the summer^^ 

On Monday the neighborhood old ladies dressed me and Wentz 姉妹 up in kimonos and took pictures of us! It was soooo fun! I got to wear my own kimono that I bought a while ago and I felt SO HAPPY. 

 We had to go to Nagoya for a meeting Wentz 姉妹 had and holy. Actually holy I forgot how terrible it is there in the summer. THE HUMIDITY. I was reminded of when I was transferred there in August last year and yep. It was terrible. 

While Wentz 姉妹 was in her meeting, I was with Bleazard 姉妹. We had a blast. One of my fav things that happened was this real funky lady came up to us in the middle of McDonalds and just poured frozen blueberries on my tray then walked away. This gives you a good idea of how our day went.

Anyways, the point is, I love Nagoya, but being in Nagano in the summer is a BLESSING! We are right next to the mountains rather than right smack in the middle of the city! "At least we are not in Nagoya" has been our catch phrase when the sun gets real strong.

 We visited Nobue and she opened the door with a huge smile on her face telling us how she has been waiting for us to visit her. This woman brings me so much joy. Everyone please please pray for her!

On Saturday we went to Ueda and had the most Japanese experience of our lives. 6 of us missionaries joined about 25ish other Japanese men in carrying this mini shrine thing in a parade on our shoulders and our bodies died. We were chanting (tsuya) the whole time (I think it's the name of the group we were apart of, idrk) so our voices also died. We didn't get great pictures, but trust, this things was HEAVY

JAPAN TIPS WOOO

- most homes do not have ovens. 

- it's not necessarily rude, but not as accepted to be walking down the street and eating something. That doesn't stop me though when I have the munchies. Mwahaha

- as I have learned this week and been told lots, Japanese people LOVE when foreigners participate in their cultural things. 

- 久しぶり Hisashiburi (he-saw-she-booty) long time no see/first time in a while 

We are back baby

READ THIS TALK

Why Not Now?

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1974/10/why-not-now?lang=eng

 recently there have been a lot of things I've wanted to do, but I keep thinking... I'll start doing that when I get home from my mission, or go back to college. Then I read this talk and got slapped in the face a little bit. Why am I waiting? The truth is because I'm lazy and I hope future me will not be BUT that will only happen if I start NOW. I encourage all of you to read this talk, then think about what in your life you are putting off simply because you don't want to start now. THEN GO! START! YES! This is how you become stronger and better. I know your Heavenly Father will help you do this as you reach out to Him for help.

He loves you SOOO MUCHH EEEK

I love you too weee

Make it a good week!!

<3 Sister Peterson

07/14/2025

Yayyy Kimono

My girl Kiuri was very excited to give me this little lace shawl thing

These photo booths are all over Japan and they put the scariest filters on your face hehe.

Spot the blueberries

Death

Happy Anniversary and the Lutes's Come Back

 Kefford and I got to celebrate our 27th anniversary this year. It is crazy to me how fast the past 27 years have flown by and that our kids are all grown and leaving home. I love him so much and am so happy to be spending this life and more with him.

We went mini golfing and then went to dinner, super low key but fun

Joshua's family came back around for another night at our house this time on their way home from Oregon. Mallory brought me a Peace Lily to thank me for the hospitality and I am really determined to try and keep this plant a live, something I am definitely not good at.

We went to the Discovery museum and I was pretty shocked at how expensive it was for us to get in. It is a museum geared for kids and I thought that the adult tickets should not have been as high as they were. Rylee and I had fun being with everyone and I think Joshuas kids had fun.

Leona

Amos

Amos, Fredrick, Rylee and Elizabeth

Leona, Rylee and Elizabeth

After the museum we went to Reeds Dairy for lunch, grilled cheese sandwiches, chips and a cup of Ice Cream, delicious 

Rylee. Fredrick, Elizabeth, Amos, Leona and Joshua