Week #64 -- Merry Christmas!!!!!!

Hello Everybody!!!

Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and got to spend time with family and friends!!

First off I had a wonderful time seeing the beautiful faces of my family!!! It was so good to see them and hear there wonderful voices!! I love you family!!!!

This past week was a little difficult cause of the holidays so some people we didn't get to see. But we had some really cool experiences. On Wednesday we got to take one of the young men from the ward out with us. He's been thinking about going on a mission so we wanted him to get a taste of missionary work. He did so amazing!! We went to go see a family that we haven't been able to get in touch with so we were going to just drop by. We only got to talk with the father of the family and he wasn't a member and then Ben asked him if he would like to take the lessons from the missionaries to learn more about Jesus Christ. It was awesome even though he said no cause Ben was able to testify to him how he's been getting back into church and he has seen nothing but blessings. Amazing!!

At church we had such a wonderful service. Had a lot of musical numbers that members of the ward did and brought the spirit in so much!!! Then got to eat a lot of food with the wonderful members in the ward!!

For my spiritual thought I just want to share my love I have for the Savior and the wonderful gospel he has given to me and everyone else on this planet. I am so blessed to be able to be here in Florida as a missionary to share this gospel with others and help them know of the love that their Savior has for them. I know that Jesus Christ lives and will come again. Let him in and he will make everything better!!

I love you all!!! You are in my thoughts and prayers!!

Elder Pearson
Florida Orlando Mission
10502 Satellite Blvd.
Orlando, FL 32837

Week #63 -- 7 Days Till Christmas!!!

Hello Everybody!!

The week just flew by!! I apologize but this email will be a little short. This past week was a little slow but some great and sad things happened.

I guess I'll start with the sad news. Our wonderful friend and investigator, who we have been teaching, has sold her house and will be moving!! It won't be till February that she is gone so we still have time to meet her and get her close to baptism or get her baptized before she leaves. She is just a sweet lady and love our times meeting her. She is just a whoot!

Good news is we got to meet with an investigating family. They are up and down with how they are progressing. They are good some weeks and others not so good. We love them and have the faith that they will get to baptism. We also got to see another investigator. Lessons with him have to a specific plan and make sure we don't steer away from that plan unless the spirit is telling us too. If we don't then we will be there longer than we need to be. He is a really awesome guy and has sincere desire to follow Christ. He hasn't been reading the Book of Mormon so we think that's why he hasn't gotten an answer so we had a really good lesson about the Book of Mormon and he's committed to read it.

Still seeing the boys who were recently baptized and they are just amazing!! I love those boys. They are so amazing and just open my eyes more to how children are more sensitive to the spirit more than us older people are. They always are so excited when we come over and teach them more about Christ. We are planing to take them on a temple trip soon so that will be awesome.

I would like to bear you my testimony that I know that our savior, Jesus Christ, lives and died for all of us. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet in these latter days to restore the priesthood here on the earth, which was lost. I know that the Book of Mormon is true. That the promise that is given to us from the Book of Mormon that if we read, ponder, and ask in faith that we will know if the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon.

I love you all and know that the our Heavenly Father knows you and cares about you. Talk to him. He wants to hear from you.

Elder Pearson
Florida Orlando Mission
10502 Satellite Blvd.
Orlando, FL 32837

Week #62 -- Ice Skating, Car Shows, and Miracles!!

Hello Everybody!!

Let's just say this week was awesome! Last Monday, our Zone got to go ice skating!! It was so much fun plus I didn't fall on my butt so I can say it was a success! This was my first time ice skating so thought it wouldn't be too hard since I know how to roller blade but to me it isn't the same. It took me a while to feel comfortable and feel like I wasn't going to fall on my butt. One also cool thing is that we got to stop and see a car show that was down the street from our house!! It was super cool. I remember the times that Graham Richards was with me and got to talk to a lot of cool people at those car shows. A lot of super cool cars. 

Anyway, there was a pretty cool miracle that happened on Saturday. Usually the night times are hard to get into people homes but that Saturday we were getting into everyone's home that he had planed to see. It was awesome. We then were going to see a less-active family and had a former investigator pop in my head and thought we should go see him. I thought to myself we will go see this family then we will stop by and see him. I then had the impression to just go see him instead of the family but I really wanted to get into this families home; so we went to see then family first then see him. Well we got there and they weren't home. I then knew that the lord was telling me something. We got back in the car and head for his house. Once we got there and knocked on the door he said, "Hello Elders, I was just thinking about you and was gonna call you to come over".  What are the odds?? We then had a wonderful talk with him and shared our testimonies with him of the savior and the restoration of the gospel. 

At church, in Sunday school class we were talking about the gifts of the spirit. We talked about the gifts that our Heavenly Father has given us and that we need to seek out and figure out what gifts our Heavenly Father has given us and then share them with others. As we share those gifts with others, our Heavenly Father will be able to touch other people's lives through us and can feel of the love that our Heavenly Father has for them. 

Sunday night the ward here had a Christmas Music Celebration. It was an awesome time for not only the members of the ward but also for people in the community that aren't of our faith to join us in songs of our savior, Jesus Christ. The spirit was super strong and I loved the music that was played by so many talented people in the ward. 

I am so grateful for the many blessing and gifts that my Heavenly Father has given me. I love this gospel and the teachings and knowledge it has given me. It has helped me to know that if I'm struggling or need help with questions I can go to my Heavenly Father and he will help me and answer my questions. 

I love you all have a great week!!! 

Elder Pearson

Florida Orlando Mission

10502 Satellite Blvd.

Orlando, FL 32837

Week #61 -- Biking Pics

Hello Everyone,

Here are some pictures from our biking this week...

Got to go to Ritters. Really good ice cream!! 

Elder Pearson

Florida Orlando Mission

10502 Satellite Blvd.

Orlando, FL 32837

Week # 60 -- The Christmas Count down Begins!!!

Hello Everybody!!

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and got to enjoy a lot of wonderful food!!!! I definitely did enjoy the wonderful food but lucky didn't gain any weight which is a good thing.

There are so many exciting things happening this week!! The two brothers are getting baptized!!!!! I have absolutely loved teaching them and they are just so sweet. Every time we come over they keep asking us if we are going to talk about Jesus. Its just tickles me to death. It will be super exciting cause Elder Amiott will be confirming Chandler. This will be his first time doing that!! It'll be such a wonderful experience for him and one thing he will never forget.

Had a really awesome talk with an investigating family. The second oldest son wants to be baptized!!! That's super exciting. He's a really awesome kid and very funny. We are hoping with him having that desire the rest of the family will want too.

One disappointing thing is that we won't have a car for the week. We had to take it into the shop to get it fixed. We took it in this morning. You know what that means?  We get to be on the bikes for the entire week!! Yay!!! Not!!! It will be good cause means we will be able to talk to more people as we bike around.

Yesterday there was a baptism. He was someone that the Sisters were teaching. After he got baptized, we were waiting for them to get dressed we sang primary songs. There is so much truth in those songs and the spirit touched me so much through those simple songs that talk about Jesus Christ. Just amazing!  I love this gospel. I love my Savior Jesus Christ. He has helped me so much in my life and is continually helping me. Make the savior a part of your life!! He will do so much more than you could ever do.

I love you all!!!

Elder Pearson
Florida Orlando Mission
10502 Satellite Blvd.
Orlando, FL 32837

Week #59 -- Happy Thanksgiving!

Hello Everybody!!

The one day where we can fully stuff our selves of wonderful food and get to think of all the things we are grateful for is here!! There are so many things I am grateful for. I have truly been blessed with wonderful parents to lead and guide me and to have the brothers and sisters that I have. They are so amazing and wonderful in there own way. I love you family!!!

My week went very well. We were able to accomplish a lot of the goals that Elder Amiott and I had made last week. Funny story. On Monday, we used a little bit more miles than we should have so we decided to bike 🚲 on Tuesday down to Edgewater. Which there and back is 10 miles. So we bike well over 10 miles that day. I figured it wouldn't be a bad idea since Elder Amiott hasn't been on the bike yet so it will be a good experience for him and also will help us on saving miles. I did have the thought that we should drive down there then get on the bikes but I pushed it aside. Let me remind you that I haven't been on my bike in about 6 months so let just say when we got back that night we were very sore. I have learned my lesson and next time we will be driving down there then ride the bikes.

We have recently been working with two wonderful kids, ages 8 and 9. It has been a challenge teaching little kids but it has been awesome to see there progression and really wanting to learn about Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father. We have set a baptismal date for December 3!!! Super excited for them. We also have been working with another family. There story is very complicated but they have shown progression and is excited to see them apply the gospel in there lives.

Also this past week we had Zone Conference and it was so amazing!! We got to have a special visit by Elder Schwitzer of the quorum of the seventy. It was such a wonderful time of spiritual growth and understanding. We talked a lot about teaching clearly, simply, and powerfully. It was amazing what the spirit told me and the feelings I had felt. We then had lunch and then we got the flu shot!!! Thought I wasn't gonna have to get that again but I did.

I promise today I will send pics.

I love you all!!!❤️❤️❤️❤️

Elder Pearson
Florida Orlando Mission
10502 Satellite Blvd.
Orlando, FL 32837

 The first two pics are from Zone Conference. 

The first one is President Clark and I and then next one is Elder Schwitzer, his wife and I. 

Elder Amiott and I.

Week # 58 -- Applying Christ Atonement

Hello Everybody!!

Hope you all had a wonderful week and got to see the blessings of God in your life. This week has been a very successful week in growing my knowledge, spiritual strength, and being a better teacher.

The Atonement of Jesus Christ has been such a wonderful thing in my life. It has been able to help me overcome many of my weaknesses. The more I apply it in my life, even for the little mistakes that I have made, I gained more understand of our Saviors love for us and why he did it. From Preach my Gospel is says, “As your understanding of the Atonement of Jesus Christ grows, your desire to share the gospel will increase”.

Why is it that as we understand the Atonement of Jesus Christ that our desire to share the gospel will increase? If we don't know how to apply the Atonement into our own lives then how are we going to help others or when be able to understand what they are feeling? It will be impossible for us to do.

I know I'm not perfect or even close to it but as I keep applying the Atonement in my life continually I feel the close connection I'm gaining to my Savior Jesus Christ. He understands me fully and know what I'm feeling. He has asked us to put our sins and pains upon him so we don't have to have those feelings anymore. As we do so the chains that bind us will be lifted and we will be free from sorrow or pains we feel. I can promise you that the Atonement works and is for everyone.

"However many chances you think you have missed, however many mistakes you feel you have made or talents you think you don’t have, or however far from home and family and God you feel you have traveled, I testify that you have not traveled beyond the reach of divine love. It is not possible for you to sink lower than the infinite light of Christ’s Atonement shines.", by Elder Holland

Elder Holland hits in on the nail. We have not run out of chances to make things right or have made to many mistakes to be forgiven. If you feel this then I challenge you to seek and APPLY the Atonement right now. Our Heavenly Father wants us to change and the Atonement will help us change. I will close with Elder Hollands words.

"So if you have made covenants, keep them. If you haven’t made them, make them. If you have made them and broken them, repent and repair them. It is never too late so long as the Master of the vineyard says there is time. Please listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit telling you right now, this very moment, that you should accept the atoning gift of the Lord Jesus Christ and enjoy the fellowship of His labor. Don’t delay. It’s getting late." By Elder Holland

I bear you my testimony that the power of the atonement can change and help anyone no matter the mistake or pain someone has been feeling. I have been able to feel the healing power of the atonement and is helping me teach others receive the same healing power. I love you all so dearly. Don't delay.

Elder Pearson
Florida Orlando Mission
10502 Satellite Blvd.
Orlando, FL 32837

Week #57 -- Making Improvements

Hello Everybody,

Last week I didn't talk about my companion so I will right now. Elder Amiott is from Fresno, California. Just graduated from high school. We got talking about high school and I find out that he did marching band! He played percussion!!!! It awesome cause we both had a lot fun in marching band. He loves the Angles MLB team. Very funny and laughs a lot. Ya we definitely don't have a similarities. Hahaha. I love him so much. He really loves being out here and serving the Lord.

This week had some highs and lows. The best part about this week is that we were able to set a date with two investigators we have. It's two brothers ages 9 and 8. They are such sweet kids. They are always excited when we come by. It has been a real challenge to teach kids cause I'm used to teaching adults but the Lord has definitely helped us in teaching them simply. Beside them we didn't get to see anyone but we will be seeing one tonight which will be awesome. We had a solid lesson with her last Monday and she is getting very interested in the church. Sadly she wasn't at church but we can hopefully get her there next Sunday.

There is always room for improvement and this week Elder Amiott and I have made a lot of plans for this week and to really put ourselves where God wants us to be. My faith has also been tested a little bit of find those that god is preparing. Elder Amiott and I have really been trying to put ourselves in the areas that God needs us to be. It hard to hear of other missionaries having great experiences and we are still having a hard time finding people. Then on Sunday during testimony meeting was very comforting. A lot of the testimonies were talking about that this life is hard and it's so true. This life wasn't meant to be easy. If it wasn't easy then we wouldn't be able to progress. Having that reminder helped me to know that our savior Jesus Christ is there helping us every step of the way. As I put my faith in him, the blessings and miracles will come.

I challenge you all to put more faith in Christ. To allow him to mold you into something great. I can promise you that if you do that you will be able to see how his hand is in your life. You can be able to see the blessings that you are receiving. You will also gain a stronger testimony in Christ so when those hard times come you will be able to push through it. I love you all and are in my prayers always.

Elder Pearson
Florida Orlando Mission
10502 Satellite Blvd.
Orlando, FL 32837

Week # 56 -- Service

Hello Everyone!

This week was filled with service...

Thank you for the many prayers and hope you have a great week.  

Elder Pearson
Florida Orlando Mission
10502 Satellite Blvd.
Orlando, FL 32837

Week #55 -- Round 2?

Hello Everybody!!

Got a lot of news for you all. So hopefully I don't forget any of it. Hope you all had a great week. Would love to hear back of how it was and how you were able to see the lords hand in your life.

Sadly this week we didn't get to see any of the amazing people that we found last week. Oh well, there time will come when they are ready. Did the usual, saw less actives and did a lot of finding but just like now one was red to talk to us which isn't new but still isn't fun having people just be rude and slam doors in your face. Since Christ went through more I should be able to handle this. Plus he understands how I feel. Anyway, Friday we got to help fix a fence of a neighbor. The neighbor wanted to pay us but instead we had a better idea. Told him he could feed us plus share a message. Sadly won't be there for the dinner.

Later that Friday we get a call from president for Elder Thayne to be DL which wasn't a surprise. We knew that was coming but what we didn't know until President called us again later that night to tell Elder Thayne and I that we will be training. Our first thought is that we would be in a trio and about went crazy but then President then clarified that we would be training in different areas, so that means one of us will be whitewashing. I'll be getting a brand new missionary from the MTC and was the one picked to whitewash but the crazy part is that I'm going back to an NEW SYMRNA!! Ahhhhh!!! I'm so excited!!! I don't know if it is consider whitewashing when you have been in the area before.

For the quick thought I want to leave with you all is very simple. On Sunday, we had wonderful talks given on prayer and why we need it in our lives. It is very essential in our progression. Through prayer we are able to seek guidance and more understanding for our lives. God has all the answers. Don't be afraid to ask. He's not going to keep secrets from us. He's our father. He wants to help us. We need to do our part and act on out faith through prayer to receive answers. He has answered mine. I can stand as a witness that he does answer and that this gospel is true. I love you all. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Elder Pearson

Week #54 -- Miracles!!!!

Hello Everybody!

I first have to say there have been so many miracles that have happened this past week it's been amazing. Hearts have been soften through service and are now receiving the lessons from the missionaries. Being through a hurricane and then being able to serve those that need the help and then they start taking the lessons and learning about the restored gospel.  Just amazing.

Before going into the amazing people we were able to met last Monday Elder Thayne, Hoskins, Searl, and I were able to go to the Kennedy Space Center and it was awesome. I'll send pics today of it. Had such a blast. We were there at 9am when it opened and then left around 5 when it closes at 6pm. There was still stuff we didn't get to do. Awesome memories.

This week we got to a referral from a member in the ward. She gave us a name of a guy. He was someone that our ward helped do some clean up from the hurricane.  He was very grateful and agreed to meet with the missionaries. Elder Hill and I got to see him Wednesday (We were on exchanges). He has gone through a lot in his life and has hit a big stumbling block right now. Really nice guy and we're able to give him a Book of Mormon and said he would read it.

We also got to met a lady. We were finding her mom but got to talk to her instead. She was really nice and has really let God take control of her life and put her trust in him. Her dad took the lessons a while back before he passed away. She did mention that she believes that when he was meeting with the missionaries that he was the closest he has ever been to god. She wanted to have that closeness and made a time we would come back and talk to her family about it.

The last person is Lisa. She was someone that met with the missionaries a while back. Her and her granddaughter were both being taught. The only problem was Lisa's husband wasn't to approving about meeting with us. It did bring a bit of contention between them which we never want.  So they had to stop meeting for a while and so we stopped by to talk and she was very happy to see us.  We will be seeing her in the coming week.

So many miracles have been happening. Elder Thayne and I have been praying really hard to get more people to teach. The lord has answered our prayers and have let these people cross our paths. Having prayers answered is the best thing ever. I can truly testify that if you ask Heavenly Father for help and it's of righteous desire he will answer that question or help with what you might need help with or allow something to happen in your favor.

I just want share you all of you my brief and simple testimony of the restored gospel. Through prayer, studying, and pondering I have been able to gain an answer that the Book of Mormon is true and that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God. That the lords true church is here on earth and have the wonderful knowledge of the plan for us in this life and the next life. I am so grateful that I have been able to have this wonderful knowledge in my life to help me and guide me.  If you want to gain this understanding all you really have to do is do the same thing I did. Pray, read the Book of Mormon, and ponder what you have read. By doing those things you will gain a answer.

I love you all and have a fabulous week!!  #thecountdowmbegins

Elder Pearson

Week #53 continued -- The Hurricane Experience

Hello Everybody!

Sorry for the late email. We went out to the space center and it was awesome.

I'm still alive!!! If you haven't heard but I'm sure you all have been informed that last Friday hurricane Mathew hit Florida. Everything up to Friday and after it has been pretty intense. Please keep all the families that have been effect by Mathew in your prayers especially people in Haiti, Jamaica, and the other countries in that area.

We found out about Mathew Saturday afternoon. The projections then were saying that it wouldn't hit us. We didn't worry about it to much cause it was at a cat 3. Even if it changed and would it us it would have weakened by the time it got to us. Tuesday comes and things change. We start hearing that it will hit us but by the time it does it will get stronger. Wednesday comes and we plan to do our regular work. Out at 10 and as we are seeing people we then get the word that we need to prepare for Mathew cause it was going to hit us. We finished seeing the couple people that morning then went home and started prepping.

We went over to members houses to help them get ready for the Mathew. Wednesday night we went and stayed at the other elders apartment in Titusville.  We had to be in by noon Thursday so that morning we went to help a couple other members get ready. At this point I still couldn't grasp that this was actually happening. We then get back from service and are eating lunch and then we get a call from the mission office. They then tell us we need to head to Orlando. The projections were then saying that the eye of Mathew would come right over our area. We then grabbed our stuff and booked out of there. Of course everyone else is leaving cause of Mathew so it took for ever to get to Orlando but got there safely.

On Wednesday when we got to the Titusville apartment I got a call from Brother Nelson in the Longwood ward in the Lake Marry stake. He then asked me if I was safe cause my mom was freaking out about me. That's ok though cause that's what moms do. Plus I'm now hoping to get to that ward to meet Brother Nelson. We then waited the storm out in Orlando. We only got the edge part of the storm but was still pretty intense. Had a hard time sleeping so didn't get much sleep Thursday into Friday morning.

We got back o our house Saturday afternoon and then our Bishop picked us up and went to work. Went to Merritt Island to help members there cause that's were the majority of the storm hit. The northern part Florida of us got hit worse than us. Sunday we had sacrament meeting so just an hour. The people that's were going to help clean after that could come in work clothes. This will probably be the first and last time I would wear normal clothes to church. It felt very weird since been a missionary and always in white shirts and ties and now everyone sees us in regular clothes.

Worked really hard and were able to help a lot of people. Not sure what is still left to be done but was awesome to help those in need. We also did get to wear the helping hands shirts so that will be a cool souvenir. Don't worry I have plenty of pics that I will send from this past week.

Thank you for the many prayers and hope you have a great week.    

Elder Pearson
Florida Orlando Mission
10502 Satellite Blvd.
Orlando, FL 32837

Week #53 -- Hurricane Emails

Email 10/5/16

Dear Parents,

In the Florida Orlando Mission we are preparing for the oncoming tropical storm to insure the safety of the missionaries.  All missionaries have been contacted and provided with specific instructions for emergency preparedness.  For those missionaries living near the coast, evacuations have been planned to provide a safe place for them to stay until the storm ends. We will keep you informed as to the safety of all our missionaries.

Thank you for your concerns and prayers.

Sister Rasmussen , Secretary
Florida Orlando Mission

Email 10/6/16

Dear Parents,

All missionaries are accounted for and are safe.  Many have been relocated to provide for their safety. They are prepared with food, water, flashlights, and given instructions to keep their phones charged if possible. We will continue to keep you informed as long as we have power.  Thank you again for your prayers.

Sister Rasmussen , Secretary
Florida Orlando Mission

Email 10/7/16

Dear Parents,

We are grateful for your prayers as we continue to stay inside and weather out the storm.  The missionaries have reported in and all are safe.

Sister Rasmussen , Secretary
Florida Orlando Mission

 

Week #52 -- #Conference Weekend #Hurricane

Hello Everybody!

Hope you all had a great week! If not let's make this week great!!

To start off the week we did service for a nonmember. We didn't know what she was going to have us do until we got there.  She then told us that she wanted us to clean out the rats nest under her house!! The first thought came to my head was like heck no!! We pulled all the grass out and then sprayed it with weed killer. Luckily we never saw it which was good and didn't have to crawl under the house. Crawling underneath a house especially in Florida isn't the best idea cause you never know what you will find under there. We then finished some other things that she needed done. We then had a talk with her about the gospel. Her husband was a member but past away like a year ago. We talked about the Plan Of Salvation cause she was talking to us about how much she loved her husband. We figure that talking about them being together for eternity would hit home. It did and we tied it to the Book of Mormon and gave her one. She said she will read it. Can't wait to see her this week.

Wednesday and Thursday was so cramped with people to see cause Conference was that weekend. Just saw a handful because we don't have very many investigators to teach right now.

Conference was so amazing!!! I loved it so much and can't wait till they come out so I can read them and apply the message into my life. It is so hard to choose my fav one cause they all are so good. I did like the one given by Elder Stevenson about the Book of Mormon. The one question he asked was, can you see the Book of Mormon as the keystone of your testimony?  Ask your self this question and ponder on it. If your answer is no to this then use your agency to change that so it is the keystone of your testimony of the savior. I can promise you that as a servant of the lord Jesus Christ anything is possible through Jesus Christ.

I love you all!! Would love to hear from you all!!

Elder Pearson
Florida Orlando Mission

Week #51 -- Thunder??

Hello Everybody!

Oh my! A lot has happened this week. There has been a lot of laughter, spiritual experience, sarcasm, and being out for one year!!The time I have been with Elder Thayne, my sarcasm has come out a lot more than usual and it's great cause he gives it right back. If I could record the entire day of Elder Thayne and I, it would just be us laughing the entire time. It's great!

The laughter part was mainly Elder Thayne laughing I wasn't. This last Thursday night we had a big storm that came in. Around 10 it was lighting pretty good but there wasn't any thunder. It was cool when outside and took pics. Then it started getting closer to us and the thunder was pretty loud. I then told Elder Thayne that it's going to crack thunder and lighting at the same time and the power will go out. IT DID!! I can't tell you how bad it scared me. I was freaking out so bad that I scared Elder Thayne more than the thunder. The worst part is that it happened AGAIN!!!! I didn't sleep very well that night. I might send the videos that we took while this was happening.

It has been a year!!! I can honestly say it hasn't felt like I have been out for a year. It has been the greatest experience ever. I have loved every minute of it. It has had its hard times but have learned a lot.

The spiritual experience this week was found in the Book of Mormon. I restarted reading the Book of Mormon and posed a question at the beginning of it. I have heard of people doing this before and them having a cool experience from it. Every time I read it I read something that answers that question in some way. It is amazing. The Book of Mormon is true and can help anyone in times of struggle.

I love you all and have a great week!!

Elder Pearson
Florida Orlando Mission

At the one-year date of being on a mission missionaries burn a shirt and tie.

Week #50 -- New Transfer

Hello Everybody!

I can't tell you how how excited I am for this transfer. This past week was great. I didn't get to see the people we wanted to like the investigators, but did get to see a lot of less actives.

On cool experience this week was on Wednesday. We were stopped at this former investigators house and first thing she said was, "Hi Elders! I was just thinking about you". Let me point out that investigators don't usually call us elders and we go crazy when they say they were thinking about us. As we talked she was saying about when she got baptized and what's been going on in her life. Once she talked about her being baptized we were totally lost of who we were talking to. We figured it out though and had a great talk with her.

To give a little bit of info about my comp. Elder Thayne is from Ogden, UT.  He can play the piano very good. It's awesome cause he can give me more pointers. He was in the marching band in high school and played the trumpet. Also he is known back at home for his "selfies" pic that he takes. We are going to take some great pics.

My thought for you all is something that I have been thinking about this week. It's all about agency. I know I have talked about this before but it seems that I learn more and more about it and how it is essential in our heavenly fathers plan. I have been able to understand more of how our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ might feel when his children don't make the best choices but through Christ everything can be changed. We need to forget the mistakes we have made and start now to make the better choices. Christ didn't just suffer for us to not to use the atonement. The atonement is there for us to use. I want you all to know that the atonement works. Just trust him and forgive and forget. He will make you whole again. It has made me whole again. I love you all very much. Please know that. The gospel is true and will bless your life.

Have a great week y'all!!

Elder Pearson
Florida Orlando Mission

Week #49 -- Transfers??

Hello Everyone!

I thought I would let you all know that I will be........STAYING in cocoa for another six weeks with......Elder......Thang! Yes Elder Thang. Which means sadly that Elder Armijo is leaving and will be spending is last two transfers in Conway, it's near Orlando. Had a good time with Elder Armijo and was a good learning experience. I'm super excited to stay here in Cocoa for another six weeks. Gives me more time to help our investigator and others that we are working with.

Speaking of our investigator, we had just an amazing lesson last Wednesday with him and his wife. We focused a lot on faith cause it seemed last time we met with him he didn't have much faith. As we went through the scriptures, we started in Alma 32 were it explains what faith is. I love verse 21, it explains faith perfectly and simple.

21 And now as I said concerning faith--faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true. We then went to Ether 12:6 which says

6 And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.

The reason we went to this scripture is because we know that he isn't going to revive his answer to know if the church is true unless he puts everything we have taught him to the test. By reading your
scriptures daily, coming to church, praying, and following the commandments. If he doesn't put it to the test he won't be able to gain his witness. I happy to say that he is. He just has a couple things he is working through.

Sorry this will be a short one.  You are all in my prayers and love you all very much. Have a great week!!

Elder Pearson
Florida Orlando Mission

Week #48 -- Trials

Hello Everyone!

Last week of the transfer is here! I'll let you all know what happens next week. Haven't stayed more than two transfers in an area so we will see if that is still the case.

This past week we got to see an investigator. It was great. Sadly we were an hour and a half late cause we got stuck on the freeway from a car crash that happened. We still made it though which is good. He's been taught all the lessons so we really just wanted to see where he was at and what the next steps where going be. His wife sat in on the lesson which was awesome. She also was a lot more vocal in the lesson than she has been. Talked about what her thoughts and concerns where about
him being baptized. We are meeting with him again this Wednesday.

This past Friday we got to go to the temple. I honestly can't put into words of how great the temple is. It is one of the best places to be. I love being at the temple so much. I can feel the spirit so strong. It is truly the house of the Lord.

Throughout this past week, a lot of what we talked about with investigators or less actives that we saw was about trials and struggles that we go through in this life. In Alma 36:3 it give us some guidelines of what we need to do when we have these struggles. In this scripture Alma is giving his son Helaman some council and this is one of the things he said.

3. And now, O my son Helaman, behold, thou art in thy youth, and therefore, I beseech of thee that thou wilt hear my words and learn of me; for I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day.

We know that trust in God is the same as having faith. Having faith that he will "support" us.  The definition for support is, bear all or part of the weight of, or, give assistance to. If we put our trust in
God he will help us. He doesn't want us to fail he wants us to succeed. Ask him for his help and he will give it according to your faith in him.

Have a fantastic week!

Elder Pearson
Florida Orlando Mission

Week #47 -- Families are forever

Hello Everyone!

Summer is almost over!! Which makes me happy cause it won't be so hot. I thought from living in Arizona my entire life I would be used to the heat, I guess not.

Had a pretty good week. Started it off with Zone Conference which we had to leave the house by 5:45 to be at the chapel in Vero which is an hour away. Once we got down there at 7, no ones there and we misread the email that they sent out saying it would be changed from starting at 7 but at 8. At least we were on time. I love these meeting cause I always get to learn something to start applying in becoming a better missionary or get reminded about something I have been slacking on doing. Also there is where we get to see other missionaries from the other zones.

The rest of the week was a lot of stopping by to see people. Sadly most of the people we stopped by didn't answer. The people we did see though are doing well. It was mainly less actives that we got to see. Didn't get to see one of the investigators that we were really hoping to see. We found out from another family that she has been having family problems so we are hoping that things will work out so we can see her sometime soon. The awesome part is that our other investigator came to church again yesterday! We also are going to see him on Tuesday. It's super exciting cause he knows the church is true and wants to get baptized. He just a great guy. It's awesome to see how the gospel can transform someone.

Yesterday at church was awesome. The talks we all about families and how to strengthen them and the roles of a father and a mother. Families are such an essential thing in this life. Families are for eternity. I love that doctrine. Knowing I can be sealed to my parents and sibling, as well my family I will soon have. I love my family and am so grateful for them and all that they do for me. I love my Savior and my Heavenly Father. God bless you all.

Have a blessed week!! Loves!!!

Elder Pearson
Florida Orlando Mission

P.S. -- Families are together forever. Adding on to my email about families we
got to sing this song at church after the talks and had all of you on
my mind as we sang the song.

https://familysearch.org/photos/audio/28817426