Week #12 -- Christmas SKYPE

Hello Everybody!!

This past week was awesome!! Hope everyone had an amazing Christmas and hope that Santa was good to all of you.

So, I have received word that I am getting transferred to a new area in the Orlando mission. I won't find out who my new companion and what area I will be in till Tuesday. Next week I will let you all know where my new area is. Anyway, this past week was awesome besides that it was Christmas. We got to meet with a part member family. The husband is a member and his wife is a non-member. She has a lot of health problems and really has a hard time with understanding if God is really there for her if all these things have happened to her. She also has a hard time with understanding the Book of Mormon cause of an accident she was in. We then told her that we had Book of Mormon class on Wednesday nights. She didn't come last time but we will try to get her out to it next time. 

We have had a couple media referrals that didn't turn out to be very successful. Like one for example, we saw a lady named Happy Loves. It's not her real name by the way. She has had a really bad life and knows that God doesn't love her cause if he did then he wouldn't allow all the things that she has gone through happen to her. We tried to teach her and help her see that God does love her but she wasn't open to it. I don't think we will be returning. Besides that we had Christmas Eve dinner at a members and she had a non member there. After dinner we showed the video "He is the gift". The spirit was so strong. Powerful testimonies were shared and I knew that she could feel it. I'm really hoping that Elder Gubler and his new companion will be able to go by and teach a lesson.  

Next was Christmas!! We had weekly planing that day so we planned for the next week of who we were going to see and what our goals were going to be and what we needed to do to accomplish them. We then went to a members house so we could skype our family which was awesome!  Saturday we saw some less actives and then hand a recent convert lesson with Danielle. So every time that  someone is baptized the lessons they were taught before are retaught. This helps a of people cause questions might come up this time than before they get baptized.

It is really sad that I will be going to a new area. I never thought how much love I could have for a ward and investigators in a short amount of time. I'm going to miss the lecanto ward very much. I love you all and hope you have a wonderful week!!

Elder Pearson

Florida Orlando Mission

10502 Satellite Blvd. Ste E

Orlando, FL 32837-8479

It was SOOOOOO WONDERFUL to be able to hear his voice and see his face!

We all squeezed in front of the TV so he could see all of us -- best gift ever!!

 

A ward member sent this to me in December -- I love it! 

Funny that we never saw the resemblance!

 

Week #11 -- Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

I hope you all had a wonderful week and have a wonderful Christmas. I always love the Christmas season. It always seems that more hearts are open. It's wonderful to find new people to teach and for their hearts to be touched by the message we have to share with them.

Throughout this week many things have happened. We took Elder LeCheminant to the mission office in Orlando for him to return home. Sad to see him go and I will miss him. He has taught me so much and have still more to learn.

We saw a lot of less actives this past week and went to finding potential investigators. It's really hard with being Christmas this week when everyone is out of town or all the family is at home and they don't want to be bothered. Didn't have a lot of success there but
we did find a women that seemed interested in the Book of Mormon and we are going to see her on Tuesday.

We also saw Dave many times this past week to help him overcome his Tobacco problem. We think we are making progress and help him with new ways to overcome it, but keeps falling bad into smoking. He really is almost there just needs to push a little more and he will be able to get through it. I can see it in his eyes that he wants to overcome it and with Heavenly Fathers help he can do it.

On Friday, we had a Christmas devotional for our mission. It was awesome!  So many musical talents were shared and the spirit was so strong. Also wonderful messages given by President and Sister Berry. We then got to eat some food and talk with other missionaries
throughout the mission.

Also one exciting news is that one of our investigators was baptized and confirmed a member. What an experience!  It was so cool to see her follow the example of Jesus Christ by being baptized. It also made me think of the time I was baptized and the promises I made
with God. I have been able to see the blessing in my life and in my family as I have kept those promises. The one thing I love that our Heavenly Father has given us is the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost can guide, warn, testify of truth, and  prompt us to do something. What an amazing gift that God has given us. It has helped me in so many ways.

I would like to share with you my testimony of our savior Jesus Christ...

I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and is the way to return to our Heavenly Father again. Jesus Christ paid the ultimate price by suffering for our sins. He did this because he loves us so much and knew that it was the only way for us to return to our Heavenly Father. He has been through it all. He knows the pains that we feel and the struggles that we go through. Every time that we might fall he is right there helping us back up. I know that the Bible and the Book of Mormon is the word of God. That the Book of Mormon was translated by prophet named Joseph Smith.  I have asked Heavenly Father through pray if all these things are true and they are.  I would like to ask all of you to ask God as well and have your own witness to know if what I say is true. You will have that answer by the power of the Holy Ghost. It is a warm, peaceful, comforting feeling. It is a feeling that you will never forget.

I love you all and wish you a Merry Christmas!!

Elder Pearson
Florida Orlando Mission
LeCanto Ward
10502 Satellite Blvd. Ste E
Orlando, FL 32837-8479

Elder Gubler and Elder Pearson on Christmas Day. 

Week #10 -- Baptism

Hello Everybody!!!

Hope you all had a wonderful week. Sad news!! My dad (Senior companion, Elder LeCheminant) is leaving tomorrow to go home!!😢😢😢   He has been a great trainer for me and he is awesome!! When we take him down to the mission office Elder Gubler and I will drive back to LeCanto.  We will have the area on our own for two weeks, then one of us will be transferred to a new area and someone new that has been out longer will come in.

So this last week we did a lot of finding less actives. We have a lot of less actives. President Berry has asked us to teach a lesson with 12 less actives a week. A couple obstacles we have is the area being so big and some less actives we teach have some of the doctrine
mixed up. When we explain correct doctrine it's hard for them to believe it; they have believed it for so long that it hard for them to believe in something else or they really didn't have there own conversion yet.

Great news!! We have a gator that's being baptized this week!! She had her baptismal interview last Friday. She is a super solid investigator. Her entire family are super mad at her for joining another religion. Even though her family is against it she says that she
would never turn away cause of the feelings she has had.  The best part is that her son is 10 and he loves going to church. He wants to do scouts really bad which I love.

Sadly one of our gators had to move his baptism date back cause he wasn't going to be done with smoking in time.  There's no set date for someone to be done with word of wisdom issues, but Elder LeCheminant has found that a week before the baptismal interview is a good amount of time for someone to quit. We really have done all we could. We have given him blessings and ideas to quit; at this point all we can do is encourage him. Any advise would help.

If I do get transferred from this area I'm going to miss the members. The members are so awesome! My testimony has grown a lot from hearing there testimonies and how the gospel has changed their lives.

I love you all so much and have a wonderful week!!!

Love
Elder Pearson

Florida Orlando Mission
LeCanto Ward

Elder Pearson, Elder Gubler and Elder LeCheminant pose for their Christmas card.

Week #9 -- Christmas Devotional

Hello everyone,

Hope you all had a wonderful week.

Hope all of you got to watch the Christmas devotional last night.  My favorite part was giving my Dieter F Uchtdorf and the story he shared. The story he shared was about a man that had to walk around with crutches. He saw some wheelchairs for people to ride in he thought. Oh
how great he thought it would be to be able to move around a lot better in a wheelchair. Once it can to his turn to ride in one, the joy he had as he moved around in that wheelchair.  After riding it around for while he passes his friends and his friends ask him what he's
doing. He told them that he was giving it back so someone else can ride in it. The missionary that was helping pass out the wheelchairs and his friends told him that the wheelchair was his. The mans eyes filled up with tears; he felt so much gratitude for the wheelchair he was
given.  The amount of gratitude this man had for the gift he was given; we too should feel the same toward Jesus Christ for what he did for us.

I want to express to you all how much gratitude I have for my Savior. I love and know that Jesus Christ suffered for me and all of you. He did it for us cause he loved us so much and he wanted us to be able to return to our Heavenly Father again. He is the only one that can know and feel the same feelings and concerns that I have and the same with all of you. All we have to do is ask and that is what I have been doing a lot lately. I can feel of his love and guidance and the strength that he has given me to overcome the temptation that Satan
might throw at me.

I love you all and hope you have a wonderful week.

Love
Elder Pearson

Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus. 

Week #8 -- Time Flys

Hello Everyone!

Hope everyone had a wonderful thanksgiving and ate a lot of food! Now on to Christmas! Yay! I can't believe it's almost Christmas. First Christmas in Florida!!

Speaking of Christmas there is a wonderful video called "The Savior is Born". It is a great video to be able to share with others and a good way to talk about Christ since it's Christmas. It's on the gospel
library app and on the church website to download it. It's a great opportunity to do some missionary work. Pray to know who that Heavenly Father wants you to share the video with. I promise you that is you ask he will guide you to that person and it will be a great experience for you. I challenge you all to do that. I would then love you hear about your experience.

So this past week has been an exciting one and filled with many opportunities to do Heavenly Father will. Just yesterday I was able to use the priesthood, which I hold, to give a less active member a
blessing cause of his health issues he has been struggling with. I am so blessed to have the Melchizedek Priesthood and can see the joy it brings to others. Heavenly Father knows everyone of us on a personal basis. He knows what we are going through and wants to help us. All we have to do is ask for his help through prayer. You can do it anywhere, anytime, and he will be listening. I know he will answer your prayers just like he has done for me. There is a purpose to this life and
where we are going. Just ask to be guided to that truth. I love you all and hope you have a wonderful week.

Love
Elder Pearson

Week #7 -- Thanksgiving

Hey!!

Hope you all had a great week. Know that I think about and pray for you all.

This past week has been amazing. Heavenly Father is really blessing my companions and I with people to teach. It's so cool how Heavenly Father puts us in the right place at the right time. We are really working hard and is so much fun!!!

One thing that we got to do last week was prep boxes for thanksgiving dinners for those that can't afford it. Then Saturday is when we gave the boxes away. So many of these people don't have much. It made me really think that I should be grateful for what I have and what I have
been given. I have been able to have a wonderful family and have been able to have this wonderful gospel that has given me the knowledge to know my purpose in my life and where I'm going. By knowing this for myself and learning more everyday I can share with others and help them learn of their purpose and where they are going.

I want to express my gratefulness for you all. You all have blessed my life in so many ways I can't even count. Thank you all for all you have done for me. You will be bless for your willingness to teach me and help me grow to who I am today.

I love you all and hope you all have a wonderful thanksgiving!!!🍗🍗

Love
Elder Pearson

Week #6 - We are part of God's Army

Hey everyone,

This past week has been so crazy and so exciting. Also this Tuesday is transfers and it looks like I'll be staying in LeCanto for another month!!!!

To start off my week we had zone conference.  There was so much stuff I was able to learn and be able to become a better missionary. These are some of the questions he asked. Who are we? What is our role? Who do we represent? What does the lord expect of us? How do we go about accomplishing his great work?  We save lives. We are part of Gods army.  We are gatherers, preparers, instruments. We represent God and his church if we are a full time missionary or not.  The lord expects obedience, having faith, teach doctrine of Christ, and teach by the spirit. We also ask for his help to know his will and what he needs to do through us. As we yelled to him we can touch people's lives and can have the truths that we know.

Also last night we had a fireside in Orlando which is a two hour drive from LeCanto and it ends at 9 pm. Anyway it was an awesome fireside. We got to listen to two amazing musicians. Marvin Goldstien and Vanessa Joy. Brother Goldstien  has traveled the world as a pianist and entertainer. He began his musical training at the age of 9 and has won many awards. I advise you all to look him up. His playing is incredible. Sister Joy is a singer and has performed for many places like in Germany, Egypt, Chili, and many more. The spirit was so strong and as they bear there testimonies I could feel the spirit.  As Sister Joy sang some of the words really stood out to me. One was about when she goes to places to sing and only gets to met people for a short moment. "Because I knew you I have been changed for good". There are times that we meet people only for a brief time and that happens a lot as a missionary. We might not realize that we can change people for good. The spirit can testify of what we say to others as long as we listen to the spirit.

Being a missionary is the best thing ever.  It doesn't feel like I have been out for 2 months. Crazy! I love you all and are always in my prayers. I invite you all to always listen to the spirit and be guided to what the Heavenly Father needs done through you. I promise your
testimony will be strengthened and can bless others lives. Hope you guys have a wonderful week. Be good and don't do bad things.

Love you all,
Elder Pearson

Week #5 - Daily personal study

Hello everyone,

Good morning!!! Hope you all had a wonderful week. This past week has been awesome.

I'm so grateful for the time I have each morning to have personal study and companion study.  Each day I always learn something new and what I can do to help our investigators. Each day the lord has helped me to see the needs of our investigators and what they need to hear. I'm so blessed to have this gospel in my life and to share it with others and have this knowledge.  I invite you all to read from the scriptures cause it will bless your lives in so many ways.

This past week has been great with finding new members.  We found 5 new members this past week and they all came to church yesterday.  Two of them just showed up, we have never met them before. They are really solid and I'm so happy to meet them.  I'm so excited to be able to teach them and to find more people to bring unto Christ.

Hope you all have a wonderful week.

Love
Elder Pearson 

Week #4 - Amazing testimonies shared

Hey everyone,

Hope you all have had a wonderful week and had a wonderful fast Sunday. I have to say I love the ward that I'm in. Even though most of them are over the age of 50, which is new for me, they have amazing testimonies. Also that almost everyone in the ward says there testimony which is so awesome.  As I was hearing these testimonies it reminded me of my ward and the amazing people that I have been able to know.

So this past week has been great and I'm really trying my best to help our investigators to come closer to Christ.  I know that the lord will guide me in what I need to study so the Holy Ghost will touch there hearts. I also never knew I would have so much love and care for the
people that I encounter and teach.

In priesthood yesterday, we had a wonderful discussion. It was based off a talk given by President Uchtdorf titled "Finish with Your Torch Still Lit"

He talks about how in Greece that they had races called Lampadedromia. In this race the runner carried a torch in his hand and passed it to the next runner and so on. The prize wasn't awarded to the team that ran the fastest but to the team that crossed the line with the torch still lit. How often do we make January resolution and say committed for a couple days, weeks, months maybe.  Then soon realize come October that the flame of our commitment is now turned to ashes. We always start strong and have the desire to be the best we can be and but the see that we have discarded or forgotten our resolutions. It's
human nature to fall or become discourage at times and feel like we want to drop out of the race.  As followers of Jesus Christ, we have committed not only to begin the race but also to finish it and finishing with our torch burning bright. One part that I loved in it is when he talks about the light of Christ
never dies.

The Light That Never Dies

"Sometimes after stumbling, failing, or even giving up, we get discouraged and believe our light has gone out and our race is lost. But I testify that the Light of Christ cannot be extinguished. It shines in the darkest night and will relight our hearts if only we 
incline our hearts to Him (see 1 Kings 8:58).  No matter how often or how far we fall, the Light of Christ ever burns brightly. And even in the deepest night, if we but step toward Him, His light will consume the shadows and reignite our souls.  This race of discipleship is not a sprint; it’s a marathon. And it makes little difference how fast we go. In fact, the only way we can lose the race is by finally giving in or giving up.  As long as we continue to rise up and move toward our Savior, we win the race with our torches burning brightly.  For the
torch is not about us or about what we do.  It is about the Savior of the world.  And that is a Light that can never be dimmed. It is a Light that swallows the darkness, heals our wounds, and blazes even in the midst of the deepest sorrow and unfathomable darkness.  It is a
Light that surpasses understanding.  May each of us finish the path we have begun. And with the help of our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, we will finish joyfully and with our torches still lit."

As we strived to keep our torches lit we can be examples to those around us and help them light there torches.

Love you all and hope you have a great week. Be good and don't do bad things

Elder Pearson

Week #3 - Free agency

Hey everyone,

I know I have said it a lot in the past three weeks but this is the best decision I have made in my life. I have been able to see with some investigators making the next steps in coming unto Christ. Not baptism yet but getting close.

One experience I would like to share with you that happened yesterday. We got to meet a part member family. The wife is a member, the husband isn't but has had the lessons multiple times. We talked with him and tried to see where he was at and what we could teach him that would help grow his faith in Christ. I can't remember where we were in the conversation but I told him that Heavenly Father gives us certain guidelines to live by to help us grow cause he knows what's best for us. I gave the analogy of a parent giving guidelines for there child to live by, cause the parent knows better because they have had experiences. I thought I gave it clearly and could feel the spirit as I talked. Once I was done I asked him if that made sense. He said quote "that's a horrible analogy". I wasn't expecting that answer. He said he understood what I was meaning but said he would rather hold his child's hand and help them. He then asked why wouldn't God hold my hand and help me with things throughout me life. I answered that he does sometimes but only to help us back on our feet when we have fallen down. If he did it all the time it would defeat the purpose of having free agency.

This was the first time that I really have felt like something I said didn't make sense to the person I was speaking to. I have been pretty good at speaking clearly and it kinda worried me. Some thoughts came to my head of; what if this happened to others I meet? What if they stop taking lessons from us because of me? I then realized where those thoughts were coming from. As long as I study fervently and pray for guidance and is obedient, the Lord will bless those I teach and help me to know what to say.  It was a humbling experience.

I hope you all are doing well. Have a wonderful week. Be good and don't do bad things.

Love
Elder Pearson

Second Week In The Mission Field

Howdie y'all,

I hope everyone has had an amazing week cause mine was. Getting to teach the gospel 7 days a week to people all over in LeCanto is just awesome. Even though the area is really spread out we are starting to find people and it's so exciting. This last week one of our daily goals was to try and contact one of the medial referrals and others that have been contacted before in the past but wasn't followed up on. We had about 10 that we have contacted and going to teach them a lesson this week or starting next week.

Also I got do my first exchanges with the Elders in Bellview. It was good but was a little difficult cause it wasn't as productive as I wanted it to be. We still got to teach a couple of new members which was good.

The LeCanto ward is really stepping up and doing all they can to bring back the less actives and getting member referrals to us. The members are great but it's a very small ward so is a little hard the first week but  we'remaking progress.

I'm so grateful to be here and know that this is where I'm supposed to be. I know that the Lord has called me to the Orlando mission for a reason. One awesome Conference Message I found as I was doing my studying was given by Elder Renlund. When he was talking to his brother about him becoming one of the new apostles he felt very inadequate. This is was his brother said,

 "You need to know that the Lord hasn’t called you because of anything you have done. In your case, it is probably in spite of what you have done. The Lord has called you for what He needs to do through you, and that will happen only if you do it His way.”

I know without a doubt that it wasn't just meant for Elder Renlund but to all of us who feel at times that we aren't qualified for the job but WE ARE!  He also says that when something wonderful happens in a missionary’s service when he or she realizes that the calling is not
about him or her; rather, it is about the Lord, His work, and Heavenly Father’s children.  It is his work and that's the only way us as missionaries with be successful. 

He then gives the story of him operating on a young man named Chad. As they are doing all they can to save his life they finally realize that he was to far gone and declared him dead. although sad and disappointed, he maintained a professional attitude. He thought to himself, “Chad has had good care. He has had many more years of life than he otherwise would have had.” That emotional distance soon shattered as his parents came into the emergency room bay and saw their deceased son lying on a stretcher. In that moment he saw Chad through his mother and fathers eyes. He saw the great hopes and expectations they had for him, the desire that he would live a little longer and get a little better. The emotional were unbearable to hold back. Ironically the reversed roles and the act of kindness he will never forget, as Chad's parents comforted him. I now realize that in the Church, to effectively serve others we must see them through a parent’s eyes, through Heavenly Father’s eyes. Only then can we begin to comprehend the true worth of a soul. Only then can we sense the love that Heavenly Father has for all of His children. Only then can we sense the Savior’s caring concern for them. We cannot completely fulfill our covenant obligation to mourn with those who mourn and comfort those who stand in need of comfort unless we see them through God’s eyes. This expanded perspective will open our hearts to the disappointments, fears, and heartaches of others. But Heavenly Father will aid and comfort us, just as Chad’s parents comforted him years ago.

I'm so grateful for the time I have to serve and I am doing all I can to see those through Gods eyes. He knows them and loves them and wants them to return to Him. Us as missionaries are the only way for them to know and to gain that knowledge. I know that He will guide me to find those that are ready. As we come to have the spirit in our hearts He will guide all of us as full-time missionary or not he will guide us to those that are in need of help, comfort, love, and peace. 

I love you all and hope you have a fabulous week.

#begoodanddontdobadthings

Elder Pearson

Apartment Pictures...

First Area and Companion

Hey Yall,

Its already been a week???  Doesn't feel like it.  Anyway, Orlando is
so cool.  The weather isn't  too bad.  So my first area that I'm in is
called Lecanto but we live in Inverses and its a huge area.  We don't
bike cause the houses are so spread out. Have a great week!

Love
Elder Pearson

Florida Orlando Missionaries (some new, some Senior Comps)

Elder Pearson with his first companionship which is a trio.

Elder Gubler (also new), Elder LeCheminat (Senior Comp. goes home in December)

Mission President and Sister Berry; they are from Utah. 

2 Days Until Orlando and Amazing Experiences!!

Hey everyone!

2 more days till I head to Florida and I'm so excited!!!  This past week has been an amazing experience. 

One experience I would like to share with you is about last night with our teacher Brother Christen.  As we were doing our Book of Mormon reading, a question from one of our investigators popped in my head.  How can I gain faith when I have no faith? I really didn't know how to answer it so we talked about it.  He then showed us a scripture Ether 12:18 that says that having a desire is having faith. It really helped me to know that I can ask an investigator if baptism is something that they want to do and if they say yes, I can explain to them that having a desire is acting in faith.

Another awesome moment was with our TRC investigator. We taught her about to write her experiences to see the Lords hand in her life cause she was struggling to know if God answers prayers.  She is following everything; the commandments, going to church, everything. She and her roommates (which are lds) were singing songs from the children's songbook and secretly she really wanted one for herself. Thursday is when we taught her again. I got her a journal book to write her thoughts in and one of the children's song books. When we gave it to her she told us about her experience with her friends. In her own words "there is only one way you could have known that I wanted one of these books."  AMAZING!!!!!  I also gave her my email so I could see how she does when we are gone. Just awesome. I have a better understanding of the Lords work and how He works through our missionaries. 

I love you all and hope you have a wonderful week! Be good and don't do bad things!

Love Elder Pearson

These missionaries are headed to Florida.

First Companion and Learning So Much!

Hello Everyone!

The past 4 days have been so crazy and I have learned so much! The companion (Elder Hale) that I have in the MTC is awesome.  He's really close to the spirit and we taught our first lesson last night to Jeff (which was one of teacher's investigators that he taught). It was awesome and we could feel the spirit so strong! They aren't kidding when they say they want us to hit the ground running. Also my companion and I have been made zone leaders in training, so Sunday we will get more training on that. Sad thing we found out yesterday is that the temple is closed and next Sunday is general conference so we wont be able to attend the temple here. Although it gives my companion and I more time to prep for our lessons. We teach Jeff again tonight then next week we have TRC's investigators. They are actual investigators that we will be teaching. What I have learned is to focus on the people; if I find out their needs, really love them, and by doing that the Lord will guide you to know what to teach. Love you guys and cant wait to here from you.

Love, 
Elder Pearson

Elder Hale and Elder Pearson with teachers at the MTC.

Look who Elder Pearson found... it's Elder Allred from our ward! 

It's awesome to see a familiar face and friend!

Report to the MTC (Mission Training Center)

Spencer Pearson was set apart as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on Monday, September 21, 2015. The next morning Elder Pearson said goodbye to his family at the Phoenix, Sky Harbor airport and flew to Salt Lake City, Utah. He received permission to fly up a day earlier to spend time with family before he reported to the Mission Training Center. On Wednesday, September 23, after having lunch with his Aunt Peggy, Aunt Pam and Uncle Dave, Elder Pearson was dropped off at the Provo MTC. He is so thankful for all the family, ward members, leaders and friends who have supported him to get to this point in his life journey. 

The last hug is a Group Hug... until we meet again.

Love you too Elder Pearson!

 

Having to say a quick goodbye at the MTC. The first of many 

pictures we will be thankful for over the next two years!