What A Week

Things are going pretty good in Layton. Still not as busy as we can be, but we're getting there.  The weather is cooling off a bit, which is kind of good. It's cold in the mornings.

Steve Dorman, one of our investigators, was baptized on Saturday.

He is 23, and the definition of a stud. There was not an open chair in the room when he was baptized. His mom, who hasn't gone to church in a loooong time, decided at last minute to go. And his dad, who isn't a member, went with her. It was good to finally meet them. He also had some older sisters who haven't gone in a long time go. One bore her testimony after the baptism. He also had a lot of old high school friends go. It was one of the times I've felt the spirit the strongest. He bore his testimony after and basically gave a talk. His real good friend who baptized him, Taylor, really had to change a lot lately to be able to be there for him and be able to baptize him. And now Taylor is planning on going on a mission.

We have a lesson Friday with someone and we're taking Steve along. We've go to figure out a way to get him to go on a mission. He's worked hard to get the job he has now and would be leaving a lot. But he'd be so great as a missionary. So that's next on our list with him.

Other than the awesome baptism, we've had a normal week. Just working hard and looking for people. We tracted out some apartments. When we knocked on this one door a guy, Matt, answered and looked really happy to see us. I recognized him as a drunk man I've spoken with before on the street. He said we came right in time. He had a real sick dog and has been praying for him all day, and he was going to give up in 5 minutes. He wanted us to say a prayer with him. The moment we said amen, the dog who had not eaten or gotten up in 3 days was limping around the house with his tail wagging. He ate 2 bowls of food while we were there and looked pretty happy. Not nearly as happy as Matt.

He said it was something he really needed and told us we'd seen a miracle that day. It was true. They happen because God loves us. It's great to know there is always someone looking after us and helping us with everything. No matter how big or small.

One Year Mark

Thursday is my official year mark. I'll have been in Utah for 12 months.

Elder Johnson is a typical Canadian, and reminds me a lot of Andy Bernard from the Office. His first day in the area I got a sweet family, the Godfreys to pull a prank on him with me.

The Godfrey Family with Elder Johnson and Elder Pearson

They have a daughter who I told Elder Johnson we were going to teach and prepare to get baptized. Bro. Godfrey picked us up and pretended to be Bro. Green, someone from the ward to come along with us and help us teach. We started the lesson and Bro. Green spent half the time teaching the more unique things about our church that investigators don't need to know. He went way into detail about a lot of stuff, which is a missionary's worst nightmare that we sadly face a lot.

Half-way through the lesson, Sister Godfrey, the "anti" mom got home. She yelled at us for teaching her daughter, yelled at her for having boys home without her there, and threw a fit. it was hilarious. Johnson bought every second. Definitely a memorable welcome to the area.

Last night we had a pretty cool experience. We were walking down the street when we got a text from someone we didn't know telling us to go to this house we just walked past. So we turned around and knocked on the door. It turned out to be a family who doesn't go to church anymore, but are all baptized. So we set up a lesson with them tonight. After we got out we texted the mystery person who told us about the family and thanked us. He told us that they've been fed a lot of anti-Mormon stuff and we should talk to the Bishop before going over there. So we did. He said that he and the stake president had been trying to get into the house for months, and was excited we were able to do it. So hopefully we will have a sweet lesson tonight and help this family back to church.

We also have a baptism this Saturday. Steve is getting baptized. Saying he's a golden investigator wouldn't do him the justice he deserves. He is beyond prepared. Half of me is mad nobody found him before, but I'm happy to get the chance to see him get ready for this Saturday. Teaching him has really accelerated and energized the work in the area. We have some more potential going and it's great.

I know lately I haven't had a lot of cool stories or good spiritual thoughts. It's not because I'm not having them or because I don't care any more. I love being out here. This last year my testimony has grown by leaps and bounds. I've grown more and in more ways that I ever could have any other possible way. I love being a missionary. I love being able to tell people every day what I know is true. One of the things that the devil hates the most is when people bear testimony. And I get to do it to every person I meet! I get to make him mad on a daily basis. I do know that Christ lives! He loves us enough to go through what he went through for us. Without him, life would be meaningless, but with him, its so meaningful. This church is true. I know it without a sliver of doubt. President Monson is an inspired man, and the Prophet of God. I got a ticket to the Saturday Morning session of General Conference, and I am counting down the days until I get to look at God's Mouthpiece and witness firsthand the spirit he carries with him. It's gonna be sweet.

The Jensens, Elder Brown and Elder Pearson (the Elders live in the Jensen's home)

9Th Transfer Starting

This morning we got transfer calls. I'm staying in Layton/Kaysville and greenie busting Elder Johnson from Alberta Canada. (My 2nd Canadian comp) Elder Brown is going to Clinton to serve with Elder San Ramon from the Philippines. He'll be in a different area than I was in when I served there.

This week has gone well. The Temple president for the Houston, Texas temple lives in one of the stakes I cover. It was pretty cool to get to see his home. The bulk of our teaching at the moment is still Steve, who changed his baptism date back to September 11th. Steve is a stud.

The mansion we live in has a movie theater room in it which we haven't been able to use. That changed this week when we showed Steve a DVD.  Elder Brown and I came across some copies of Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration, which is regularly shown in the Joseph Smith Building in Salt Lake. It's a powerful movie, but even more so with the big screen and surround sound. It was cool. I'm hoping to be able to continue to utilize the theater room.

Jory was baptized this Thursday.  It was a good baptism. It really helped me realize how much the spirit helps people in times of need. Jory doesn't live in the ideal home. His dad showed up to the baptism drunk, and his mom spends almost all her time at work. I'm just happy Jory was able to find a good family to go to. The Jenkins have helped him out a lot. He's always over there, and they, over time, brought him to church and introduced him to the missionaries. It was great to see him take the steps he needs and be an example to his family. He's great. And one of his friends, Ryker, was at the baptism and went to church this last Sunday. We just need to get his parent's permission to start teaching him. So we'll work on that this week.

Besides that, theres not too much to report. I'm hoping to continue to work hard and find the daily miracles the Lord puts in my path. I hope everyone is doing well. Keep in touch. Love yall


Elder Pearson

Utah, Ogden Mission

Getting Transferred

Elder Pearson and Elder Brown teaching the Kaysville Crestwood Ward Primary

Elder Brown and I have gotten along really well and really turned this area around. So obviously, one of us will be getting transfered. It's the way it works. I'll let yall know what happens when I find out in a week.

This week has been great. We've had a lot of lessons and are getting ready for a baptism in 2 days. It was supposed to be on Saturday, but had to be pushed back so that Jory's family could be there.

We cut down branches for a tree for service and both Elder Brown and I almost died on separate occasions. It was pretty sweet. Nothing too exciting to report this week. We've had a bunch of lessons with Steve, who's as solid of an investigator as they come. He's been great. He actually moved his baptism up to next Saturday. Not many people move their date up, so it's way cool. We've got to continue finding more people now.

I hope everyone's having fun with school starting :P I aint gotta worry about all that. But now that it's back in normal routines, I expect more letters. Love yall

Elder Pearson enjoying his BlueBell - the best ice cream in the country.

Hey

So we had a sweet week this week. A lot of people we found last week were flakes, which is what was expected. But we're teaching some real solid people and have a bunch of potential in this area.

Transfers are in 2 weeks and I really hope I don't get kicked out. I love this area. We taught a Young Women's class. And it was the young womens president, Sis Godfrey's, birthday, so we went over the day before we taught her class and made cupcakes. It was pretty fun. 

Elder Pearson and Elder Brown baking.

Elder Pearson goofing off while baking.

Elder Brown, Whitby, and I just got back from DI and bought some air soft guns. So this week will be fun.

We have a kid getting baptized this upcoming Saturday. He's a cool kid, and the Jenkins family, who are taking him to church, are way tight.  We are going to have an air soft war with all of them.

Nothing too specific happened this week. We stopped teaching the Polygamist. He wasn't progressing and there's a weird feeling whenever we go to the compound to teach him.

Last night we had a first lesson with Steve, a 23 year old who's lived his whole life in the same house in Utah, but just now interested in learning about the church. It's amazing how much that happens. It goes to show you that everyone has their own time and you can't force anything. He also mentioned the great example his neighbors have set for him. He was totally prepared to take the lessons. He accepted a date to be baptized Sept. 11th. That will hopefully be our 2nd baptism that day. The spirit was there and was strong.  The family who's home we had the lesson in did a great job of being there for him. That's what missionary work is about. If someone feels loved from the ward, it'll do wonders with helping them feel the spirit and prepare to be baptized.

We're still working hard. We are continuing to see success, but there are more people out there we still have to find.

Love Yall


Elder Pearson

Utah, Ogden Mission

BooYah

This week has been amazing! First off, thanks to everyone who wished me a happy birthday. Special shout outs to all who went the extra mile and sent a package. Aunt Melissa, Sister Smith, Terah, and my family for sending a package AND a big box of Bluebell ice cream... still frozen.

Pooh Bear and WhatABurger shirt from Terah

Birthday tie from either Aunt Melissa or Sister Smith

Some missionaries threw a little birthday party for me with the help of Brother Ninalga, who is a way cool member here. So that day was pretty cool.

Birthday party - missionary style (sin drink is Dr. Pepper)

The first couple weeks in this area have been horrible as far as missionary work goes. And I began to get pretty frustrated, as last week's email showed. But I also said that the Lord was going to bless our hard work.... and he did.

We were able to get a father and his 2 daughters baptized finally. He had something holding him back, but this week the Bannister family got dunked.

The Bannister Family with Bro. Ningala, Elder Pearson and Elder Brown

I was able to baptize and confirm Aspen. The little one in the picture.

They were the only people we had that were preparing to be baptized. But now we have 2 more individuals with dates they are working toward getting baptized on. One will hopefully get baptized in 2 weeks. We've also had miracles fall from the sky all week long. We've suddenly run into people who want to learn more about the church. So we've had a lot of lessons with new friends investigating the church, and quite a few coming up this week. We've also found multiple people who are going to invite their friends to meet with us (the ideal situation). One lady, actually stopped us to tell us she was planning on inviting someone that week. It's hard to imagine that this is the same are I've been in the few weeks before. It's been a polar opposite. I'm so excited to dig into all this work that God has given us. His children that he's trusted us to help and teach.

This transfer, Elder Brown and I have been trying to look for a daily miracle to write down in our planner. At first we had to think hard to find something. But lately we've been having to put at least 3 a day. It's really been great. Thank you to everyone who has been praying for this area. I do not doubt we wouldn't have had the same success if it were not for yall. Now just pray we can handle everyone we've talked to and help them to come unto Christ.

Elder Pearson and Elder Brown

One cool story from the week is from the Christensons. They are a married couple. The wife was baptized a year ago, and the husband has always been a member, but returned to going to church. We've been meeting with them for a while and helping them understand the scriptures. We hadn't had a lesson for a while because Sister Christenson was in the hospital for a bit. After she got out we tried a time or two to come over, but when we had set something up she hadn't felt good or been asleep.

We went by Thursday morning to set up a lesson. She wasn't feeling good, and told us to come back in a few days. Luckily later that night we saw them again, just walking around the neighborhood. She had felt better and told us to come by the next day. So we went by Friday evening and she was asleep when we were supposed to have the lesson. Brother Christenson didn't want to wake her up, so he told us to come by in a day or 2. While walking out of the apartments, we stopped and talked to some people. Then we saw Bro Christenson sprinting toward us and told us she woke up and was mad he didn't wake her up.

So we ended up having the lesson and at the beginning, their upstairs neighbor happened to knock on the door, saw we were there, and asked if she could sit in with us. Now she wants to start taking the lessons with us to learn more. It was way cool to see all the little things that kept that lesson alive so we could meet Kim.

That's all I have for today. This week has been awesome. Thanks again for all the support. Love yall

--

Elder Pearson

Utah, Ogden Mission

Howdy

Elder Pearson from his new house

This week has been pretty good. The work is really slow right now. I guess the 2 missionaries before Brown and Ii didn't have the best luck with member trust, so we have a lot of things to repair to get people to trust us with their friends.

The family that was going to get baptized on Saturday had to postpone their baptism. Hopefully they'll be getting baptized this upcoming Saturday.

This week has been a test of patience. Elder Brown and I are working our tails off and not seeing the immediate results. But I know they are coming. This last Sunday I did a fast for the area, and we are going to skip all lunches starting tomorrow to work longer until we start finding more people to teach. I know we'll find them. Elder Brown is a great missionary and people see that. The Lord will lead us to all of God's children in this area who are willing to learn more about the church and looking for happiness.

We did find one new person we started teaching this week. His name is John. He believes that Joseph Smith was a Prophet. He believes that the Book of Mormon is Scripture like the Bible. Why isn't he baptized? He believes that Polygamy is OK. He comes from a Polygamist family, and lives across the street from his sister, who is one wife of a Polygamist family. It's crazy. Right in the middle of Kaysville is a little hidden street with these guys. It's kinda scary with all the little kids everywhere, almost like Children of the Corn. But they are all good people and we're teaching just John for now.

Keep me in y'alls prayers. We're going to need a lot. And a lot of faith to start being able to find success and help people.

Love y'all

--

Elder Pearson

Utah, Ogden Mission
 

Hike in the mountain on p-day.

Elder Pearson and Elder Brown on p-day.

Hike on p-day.