My New Area

Last week I was informed I was moving to a ghetto part of town. That was a lie. Elder Brown and I live in the basement of a mansion.

Complete with theatre room, library, and sports room. We live way up hill, so we leave our bikes down at a member, Brother Ninalga's home and either walk there or get a ride every morning. When we walk, it takes an hour.  We live kinda out of the way.

We cover 2 Stakes- 18 wards. One Stake in Layton, one in Kaysville.  90% of the people that live in our area are members of the church.  So tracting is of no use at all.  The Elders next to us have 5 stakes and 45 wards. It's crazy. Elder Brown is a stud.

Elder Brown mowing

Our area has had 1 baptism all year so far. But this Saturday we are baptizing a father and his 2 kids. It's sweet. And there is a lot of potential out here. I still don't know the area at all, but I'm working on it.

I'm really excited to work here and get things going with Elder Brown. There are some people excited to hear about the Gospel and some excited to share it here. I'll keep yall posted on everything that happens. Hopefully I'll have the area down by next week. Love yall




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Elder Pearson

Utah, Ogden Mission

Getting Transferred

So I just got a call this morning and found out I am getting transferred to Layton. Which, from what I've heard, is basically the ghetto of Bountiful. So it'll be sweet. Kinda sucks I'm leaving. I was not expecting it, but I've been in Clinton for 6 months. So it's all good. I'll be with Elder Brown. He's from Philly. He's been out 6 months. I haven't met him yet, but I hear he's way tight and been recommended to be a SR companion some time soon, so a studly missionary. It'll be sweet.

Last Wednesday, Elder Tutt and I got a call from someone from the mission office. Our landlord called them, asked them to do a surprise inspection, and informed them he was kicking us out because of the state our room was in. The guy told us to get it back in shape. We did, and then sweet talked the landlord. We did such a good job, that we aren't getting kicked out any more :) I didn't like that room, but didn't want to be the reason missionaries didn't live there any more.

On Saturday, We got to be on a float for a parade in Clinton.

The float in front of us was throwing out candy to all the people. And the people were throwing candy back to us.

So our float was full of candy. Then at the end of the parade I hear a family shout "Hey Elder Pearson" I look up and see the Hansens, who live in Idaho now, but used to live in Houston.

And with them was my sister Sophie. Way against the rules, but I figured I wasn't breaking it, they were. So I talked to her and took a few pics. It was sweet to see her again for a second.

Then the 2nd house we knocked on after her told us they wanted to go back to church, and had 2 kids who needed to be baptized. So she was good luck.

That's all I have. I'll let yall know how Layton is next Tuesday. Love yall, keep going strong.


Elder Pearson

Utah, Ogden Mission

Life in Utah

When I got a call to Utah I was told to be prepared to be treated like a rock star. so I was prepared to talk to every other person who sees me at Walmart for at least ten minutes. I was prepared when a kid sprinted 2 blocks to give Elder Tutt and I a donut. I'm prepared to get slipped a 5 every now and then.

But I was not prepared when Tutt and I got a call last night from a member. This Saturday, there is a parade in Clinton. Bro Burtan (no idea who he is) created a missionary float for it.  We get to be the stars :)  Then on the 24th we'll get back on the float for another parade in Ogden. It's gonna be cool from the sounds of it.

Not too much has happened. We have some more potential people to start teaching. Someone who was going to get baptized on this upcoming Saturday went back to go live with her mom, so it's a bit of a downer.  What is important is that she gets baptized. I just wish the Provo mission didn't get the baptism.

We've been working and talking to a lot of people. There was a cool story I heard in a talk on Sunday I wanna share.

There was a traditional American businessman at a pier of a small coastal Mexican village with a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellow fin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them. The Mexican replied "only a Little while". The American then asked why didn't he stay out longer and catch more fish. The Mexican said he had enough to support his family's immediate needs.

The American then asked, "But what do you do with the rest of your time?" The Mexican fisherman said, "I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take a siesta with my wife, stroll into the village each evening where I hang loose and play guitar with my amigos, I have a full and busy life, senor." The American scoffed, "I am a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing with the proceeds buy a bigger boat with the proceeds from the bigger board you could buy several boats, eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then LA and eventually NYC where you will run your expanding enterprise." The fisherman asked, "But senor, how long will this all take?" To which the American replied "15-20 years." "But what then, senor?"

The American laughed and said, "That's the best part. When the time is right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich. You would make millions." "Millions senor? Then what?" "Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you could sleep late, fish a little, take a siesta with your wife, and stroll to the village in the evenings where you could hang loose and play your guitar."

We are commonly so concerned with what more we can have, we forget what we do have. What truly makes us happiest?  Will adding something add to our happiness or just make a mess and put us back where we were? This is a problem we all, myself included have. I want to try to focus more on what I have and not worry about what I could have.

I love yall, keep in touch.


Elder Pearson

Utah, Ogden Mission

Happy Independence Day

The 4th of July, like any holiday, put a halt to missionary work. Nobody wants to see us when family is over or they have fireworks to shoot off. Which I understand, but it's a bit frustrating.

I've also come to realize that Utah has the weakest fireworks in America. They have so many laws that it's nearly impossible to enjoy watching what little they're actually allowed to light. It just makes me soo happy I live in Texas.

But there was a great idea some members we watched fireworks with had. Put on 3D glasses. It made the experience a lot better.

(Elders Tutt and Pearson watching fireworks)

Something sweet coming up, the 16th and 17th. There is a huge youth fireside going on at Weber State football field. It's been planned for 18 months. President Monson and Elder Holland are gonna be there. It's probably gonna be broadcast on BYU TV, so if anyone has it, I recommend watching it. But the best part is, Elder Tutt and I will be some of only 40 missionaries that will be going... and sitting right next to the Prophet. It's gonna be so sweet. It'll be a lifetime spiritual high for sure.

One thing I realized is I'm getting older :/ in a month from yesterday, I will no longer be a teenager. Kinda sucks, but it's gotta happen some time. One sweet thing I've seen is the excitement people have to share the gospel with their friends and what that can lead to. We're working on a long chain of such an instance.

When I was pretty new to the Clinton area, a 9 year old girl, Grace, invited her friend to go to church. After a while of Rylee Wallwork going to church, her dad was motivated to go back to church, get the priesthood, and baptize Rylee.

(Rylee with her family)

Elder Evensen and I were fortunate enough to be there and witness all this. Once baptized, Rylee wanted to follow Grace's example and invite someone to church and the missionary lessons with her. After several people she asked, she received several declines. She didn't give up and wanted to help someone. So she came with us and helped us teach two other people, Alyssa and Mikayla. Rylee and Alyssa, both 9, became best friends and with help and support of Rylee, both Alyssa and Mikayla were baptized.

Now these two girls had the fire in them and wanted to share the gospel with someone. Their sister is living with them for a month from out of town, and with Alyssa and Mikayla's encouragement, taking the missionary lessons and has a date to be baptized July 17th! They also have their best friend next door preparing to be baptized in August.

It's amazing to see what an impact a good friend can have on us or others. I'm so lucky to be out here to see all this and have it inspire me to do the same both out here in Utah and back home. Seeing others overcome adversity and take steps in their lives towards happiness is such an amazing thing. I love this church. I know it's true. I know it's led by Christ himself and I can never be grateful enough for what He has done and is doing for me and all those I care about.

Elder Pearson