Amazing Story from Chase

(Me and My Daddy Grigg! Right before he went home!! Good Times!)

Chase wrote my Mom this past week. This is a really neat story of a family that he has been working with....

August 15, 2009

So...I have an awesome story for you!! We have two people with a baptismal date now! It's amazing! So there is this Family in our ward, a part member family named the Fa'amusili Family! They are awesome! They have been being taught by the missionaries for like 3-4 years, a long time, there is Stacie (the mom), Parker (11 year old girl) and Dallas (16 year old son) who are the nonmembers! So...this is amazing...So we have been meeting with them for a long time and tried committing them for baptism but they just won't accept so the other day on a Sunday we had a special fast for them with them and then some concerns were made known so we were able to adjust our teaching to address them and try to solve them. So we were in church a few weeks later when all of a sudden a thought came to my head about an objective lesson to do with them involving a cake and the blessings of baptism. Relating to a cake and adding toppings like baptism and how that just adds more blessings to their lives and testimonies. Hope that made sense! So ya we did it! (I baked a cake) On Thursday we gave the lesson, it went great, Stacie and Dallas weren't there, they had to leave but we taught Parker and Bro Fa'amusili and addressed some of Parker's concerns (public speaking) and committed her for September 5th! It (She accepted!) was so amazing!! So...rewind...as the lesson was almost over Stacie came home and listened to us commit Parker, but then she just went into the other room, so the lesson got over and we cruised home, super happy about Parker! But I guess that night Stacie (the mom) was talking to Bro Fa'amusili about the temple and what not, and how he wanted to go and how he wanted her there with him and I guess she finally said she wanted too! So the next morning (Friday) Stacie walks into Parker's room, wakes her up and askes Parker if she could get baptized on that same date September 5th! How amazing is that!!!??? So Parker goes and tells Bro Fa'amusili and then he called up all super excited! They want to go the Temple! I sure hope that made sense! But this is a huge blessing for the Fa'amusili Family and the Dry Creek Ward! Cause they have been being taught for a long long time! And we are gonna keep trying to get the 16 year old son Dallas to get baptized too! He doesn't have a date as of yet but we think he will want to follow his family So how super amazing is that! The Lord is performing miracles! I am so blessed to be here and helping this Family! Hope you made sense of that story! Ha ha It's a long one Ha Ha .... but amazing! So ya...overall that has pretty much been a highlight of the week! Even Month! We have been doing really well. We have found some more sweet people too! So the mish is amazing as usual! I Love It!

Mom, the Lord has blessed me so much!! With you and Dad, Brooke, Bre, Jesse, Linc and the gang...I have the best Fam ever! Mom, coming on my mission has been one of the best decision of my life! I Love It! I Love this Gospel! I Love these People!

Your Elder Peterson

That is kind of bits and pieces of the letter. We all just really enjoyed reading his story and thought we would share it with everyone. He told my Mom in her e-mail this week that when he told his Mission President he cried he was so happy!

Chase is doing really well and we always look forward to his weekly e-mail and occasional letter and photos. He will have been out for 10 Months on September 5th. He is almost to the one year mark. We are so proud of Chase! I have some photos that I will upload in the morning. I have to scan them into my computer. I will get them on ASAP!

I just want to thank everyone that takes the time to write and e-mail Chase. I know he LOVES hearing from you all.

Take Care,

Brooke

A promise to serve: San Jose meet your local Mormon Missionaries

Chase and his Companion Elder Creps were interviewed by a guy named Mark Andrus who writes articles for the San Jose LDS Church Examiner. Here is the article.

A promise to serve: San Jose meet your local Mormon Missionaries

Recently I met with two local Mormon missionaries, (Elder Chase Peterson of Idaho and Elder John Creps of Minnesota), to ask them some questions on why they decided to dedicate two years to come and serve others here in the Bay area.

Here’s what they had to say:

Q. What inspired you to leave your family and educational pursuits and serve a mission?

A: Elder Peterson: “One of the biggest inspirations for deciding to serve a mission was the example of my brothers-in-law and the love that I saw them gain for people after having served missions. When you’re in the service of your fellow beings you’re in the service of your God, and you begin to love people. Heavenly Father has blessed my life in so many ways, and serving for two years is only giving a little bit back.”
A: Elder Creps: “Matthew 5:16 ‘Let your light so shine…’. I was inspired by the opportunity that I have to serve the Lord and humanity at large and to bless people with the gift of faith that has blessed my life. I’ve found in my life that when I’m closest to Christ is when I’m the happiest.”

Q. Why did you come to California, did you choose where to go?

A: Peterson: “No, we didn’t choose where to go, but we were called of God. Wherever we’re sent is where we’re needed the most and we’ll be able to connect with the people. God has greater insight.”
A: Creps: “I didn’t care where I went. I knew that wherever I was sent was where I could help people grow closer to Christ.”

Q. What has been your greatest moment on your mission?

A: Peterson: “After a recent convert’s baptism, he told us that before he was baptized he had no direction in his life. The gospel of Jesus Christ has given him direction, and he’s much happier now.”
A: Creps: “One great moment has been working with a man who is paralyzed and seeing how his faith allows him to count his blessings and find happiness. He said, 'I’m so grateful that I can breathe without tubes.' Every moment of his life is treated as a precious gift. Whereas I take simple things like that for granted, like my limbs that work.”

Q. What is your primary purpose for being a missionary?

A: Peterson: “To serve other people. To share the blessings of the gospel of Jesus Christ with everyone.”
A: Creps: “To invite others to grow closer to Jesus Christ. To uplift others and encourage positive attributes in others. Even if no one converted while I’m here, if I can help someone grow closer to God it would be worth it.”

20th Birthday and 9 Months Out

(Elder Creps, Brother Davis and Chase)

Today is Chase's 20th Birthday and he has been out exactly 9 Months.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHASE!!

Chase is still in the same area (Dry Creek) and is still with the same Companion (Elder Creps) which he will be with for another 6 weeks he told us. Chase has had a lot of success and is having a lot of fun on his mission. We are so proud of him and what he is doing! Here are a few photos that he sent home last week.

The stuff in parenthesis is what Chase had wrote on the back of the photos.


















(Gangsta drinkin the Diet Coke! Gotta Love It!!)













(Me and Gilbert tried on some crazy hats at out inv. house. Ha Ha)












(My 4th Comp Elder Creps! Bein Gangstas!! What up "G"!? Ha Ha)













(Gilbert and I! Dressed up in Casey's Marine Outfit!)












(It's Hot Outside! Kick Off the shoes! Ha ha)













(Don't worry Mom, it is just a Root Beer Float! Ha ha)












(Tanner Condie, Gilbert, Me & Good ol Casey Price! The Gang)