Week #38 - Living on the beach again

Hello Everyone!

First week of the transfer already gone!! I am so excited to be near the beach again. The part that I like the most is that it is slightly cooler on the coast which makes me happy. The Cocoa Ward is really cool as well.

During my first week in Cocoa, we saw a lot of LA (less actives). One of the less active families that I got to meet I was able to meet the other side of the family while I was serving in the New Smyrna area. He was less active while I was serving in New Smyrna but now an active member which makes me so happy! I got to meet his ex wife and her husband the day I got here which was last Tuesday. It was really cool experience to meet them. When I was reflecting on this it made me think that I might be the one that gets them back to activity.

I also got to me a RC (recent convert). He just got baptized a couple weeks ago and he is super awesome. When we got to meet with him last Friday we started the new member lessons which is just going over the same lessons we would teach before baptism but going more in depth. He was able to share a powerful testimony and I could see as the tears flowed from his eyes that he knew it was true. He was able to gain that witness that this church is true. He also is an artist. It's super cool that things he makes out of wood. I'll send some pics of it next week. We are going over this week to help him around his house.

In my personal studies this week, I was reflecting on the knowledge I have been able to gain from the Book of Mormon. It so amazing of how much I have learned in just these past 9 months. Every day my testimony is strengthened and make me more motivated to share it with others.  I want you all to know that I know the Book of Mormon is true. That no regular man could translate this record into English unless he was called by God and given the authority to do it. That man was Joseph Smith. I know he did see our Heavenly Father and the son, Jesus Christ. I am a witness that the church of Jesus Christ is hear on earth today. I love you all and are in my prayers.

 "The greatest leaders are the greatest followers. Jesus Christ is the greatest leader because He is the greatest follower--He follows His Father perfectly, in all things."    - Stephen W. Owens

Elder Pearson
Florida Orlando Mission

Week #37 - Transferred to Cocoa West!!

Hello Everyone!

Crazy things have been happening here. Last Wednesday, while we were on out way to district meeting we received a call from President Berry. He then told us that there was a lot of Elders leaving the mission than Elders coming to Florida. He then told us that they are taking us out and we are being transferred!!! What!! No way!! We got our news a lot earlier than Saturday, but we would find out till Saturday where we are going and who is our new companion. Drum Roll!! I'm going to Cocoa West!!! I'm back at the Beach!!! Wahoo!! The cool part is my new companion is Elder Armijo! He is from Arizona as well. His uncle was my baseball coach! I'm super excited.

A lot of what Elder Meyers and I have been doing is cleaning the apartment and seeing our investigators and less active members notifying them that we are leaving. It was a pretty low week of finding new people to teach. We still did work hard and did all that we can to find those that are ready for the Gospel. Their was a lot of times where literally no one would talk to us, but we didn't let that stop us. We did find a person that had requested a Book of Mormon a while back, but never got it. It was super awesome and really made my day. We gave her a Book of Mormon and she was really interested in learning more. This past six weeks, has been full of a lot of those experiences. We would find people to teach that we'd see in our area; it's super cool how God would guide us to these people and be able to share the gospel with them.

I am deeply going to miss the people that I have been able to work with and also the members in this ward. Sadly, the baptism we had set is being pushed back because she because of some family issues have come up, but we did set a date with her for July 16th. We also have been having her daughters listen when we would come by and it's been a little difficult cause she has a 3 year old so it's been tough to have her listen. Some things we have done is have her help us teach the lesson, but that only works for like 3 minutes. Being from a big family and the oldest has helped me prepare for these lessons.

This past week in my personal study I have been reading in the Book of Mormon about the story of Ammon. This is one of my favorite stories cause Ammon is a missionary and he's going to teach a group of the people called the Lamanites. They are doing bad things and he was a little nervous about teaching them but was able to be strengthen by the lord and went to work. Once they saw him the bound in and took him to the king.  King Lamoni asks him what is he doing here and Ammon tells him that he wants to live with them. The king was very puzzled by this and Ammon told him that he wants to be his servant. The king tells him to tend his sheep. As he was doing this, some men began to scatter the sheep. Ammon being a servant to the lord and knew that his job was to protect the sheep so he did by cutting off the arms of these men. A lot of the men that were with Ammon were very amazed by his strength. They then went and told the king of what happened. The king asks where
is Ammon. He was attending his chariots like he told him to do after looking after his sheep. The king was very surprised by this so he had them bring Ammon to him. This is then Ammon's opportunity to then teach King Lamoni. By the end they are talking King Lamoni believes his words and falls on his knees asking for forgiveness.

This story I have been able to liken it to me as being a missionary. At first Ammon was nervous which I can say talking to random people and knowing nothing about the person. He then was able to teach and help a group of people come unto Christ. Later on in the scriptures it talks about how this people became a very righteous people. If Ammon had not gone to teach King Lamoni then they wouldn't have been the righteous people that they would become. It shows that this work can effect generations. I am here to change lives and help people see the light of Christ. I know that this is the lords work and he his guiding his people and his missionaries to find those that are seeking him.

Love you all!! Have a great week!!

Pics will be coming!!

Elder Pearson
Florida Orlando Mission

This is our Zone.

This is our District.

   

Left:  Elder Meyers and I with Perrin.  Right:  Elder Meyers and I were able to get 

some "Flips" which is just a frozen cup with fruit in it. They are so good. 

The next group of pics below are me with the member here in Apopka. 

Week # 36 - Best Apopka p-day

Hello Everyone!

I can't believe it this is the last week of this transfer. It came way to fast. I want to tell you all about how great of a companion I have. Elder Meyers is from a little town called Lodi in California. He is a very funny, goofy, spiritual guy. It has been such a blast to be with him. I have learned a lot from him. One thing I love about Elder Meyers is that he knows his scriptures, especially the bible. He has been great about being able to back things up with the bible. We make a great team. Since transfers are coming up, here is our predictions. Both Elder Meyers and I think we are going to stay for another transfer. It would be awesome if we did.

To describe this week, I could definitely see the Lords hand in having us in the right places at the right time. It was great. There are so many examples I could tell you. On Saturday, we went to see some potentials in the bottom of our area which is part of Orlando.  As we went to their house we past by a guy that was outside doing yard work. He said hi to us and recognized us when we pulled up. He has met with missionaries in the past but has only talked with them when he would see them on the street or in the store. We talked with him and we had a very good conversation. Sadly he doesn't live in our area but we're about to get a number from him so other missionaries could meet with him. How possible is it that we run into someone that has met with missionaries in the past at the right time we would show up? This didn't just happen once. Not even 10 mins later while we were in that area we pass by a lady that Elder Isaacson and I met a while back and we got to talk to her and said a prayer with her. There were so many amazing things that happened this week. I can truly say that every place we were at today was were God needed us.

Throughout this past week, there's a scripture that I came across in my personal studies. It was in Alma 7:11-13. In this chapter, the prophet Alma is speaking and he is professing the coming of Christ and the things he will do. These 3 verses specifically talk about Christ making a way for us to return to our Heavenly Father again. The verses say this:

"11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. 12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities. 13 Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me."

This scripture testifies to me and helps us understand what Christ really did for us. He did this for us. He did it so he can know how to succor or to help and care for his people. I know this to be true with all my heart. Knowing this doctrine is what makes me want to help others to know of this and help them to know that someone really cares about them. Jesus Christ is the son of God and put him self as a sacrifice so we can be cleansed my our mistakes. I love you all and I know that the atonement is meant for everyone no mater what mistakes they have made.

Have a fantastic week!!!

Elder Pearson
Florida Orlando Mission

Week #35 - Found a lot of gators

Hello Everybody!!

There are so many things that are happening in Apopka this week. During this week we found a lot a lot a lot of new investigators. It will be exciting to see how these investigators progress in the Gospel. The story of one of the people we found this week is super cool.  As we were going to see a potential investigator, there was a kid on the playground we were walking by that remembered us talking to his aunt. One of his friends asked us who we were. We told him who we were and what we do. He then asks us if we want to talk to his mom and we were like YES! We then talked to her about the Plan Of Salvation or Plan Of Happiness. It was awesome and we are going by this week to talk more about it.

Also one other guy we found that is super cool and we have the same last name. Thought that was super interesting. When we knocked on his door and talked to him, he was very open and really was interested in the message we shared with him. We will be seeing him tonight.

This week in my personal studies, I was reading in the Book of Mormon. I am in the book of Mosiah and the part I'm at it's talked about a prophet named Abinadi. The lord told him to tell the people to repent cause they were doing wicked things. As Abinadi was talking to the king, the one part that I love is when he starts talking about how if Jesus Christ didn't come to this earth and do what he did then we would have nothing. There would be no point to this life and we wouldn't be able to return to our Heavenly Father. But he did come and he did make it possible for us to return to our Heavenly Father and be clean from our mistakes.

I am so grateful for this knowledge I have. Having this knowledge is what has motivated me to share it with others. I know this gospel to be true by the power of the Holy Ghost. I know that others can receive that same knowledge by the same power.

I love you all and have an amazing week!!!

Elder Pearson
Florida Orlando Mission