The end is only a new beginning!

August 10, 2015


As close as I am to going home it really doesn't feel like it's coming! Yes I'm excited to see my family, yes I know it is a necessary progressive step in my life, but no I am not ready to take of my badge and stop being a full time missionary! I know that the power is not in this little badge I wear every day over my heart that makes us easily identifiable servants of the Lord, but there is something comforting about having it on at all time. I'd be lying if I said I haven't been sleeping with it on lately...

This week was great other than the fact that we had to take Sister Coglianese to the airport this morning. Yesterday we sat by little girl Sage in church and she whimpered throughout the whole meeting out of her devastation that we're both leaving this week. We both promised to come back when she gets baptized:) One of her friends that comes to teach with us made us all friendship bracelets that Sage ordered we never take off as of midnight last night so we can be connected forever:) I feel SO blessed to have worked with such cute little girls, I feel like these past 2 months have prepared me a ton for being a mom one day. 

We started teaching a 10 yr old boy from a less active family over the weekend. He is brilliant and when we asked him why he wanted to be baptized he said very matter of factly "Because it's a commandment from God!" Why can't everyone understand things as clearly as kids do?? Sister Coglianese and I went on exchanges with Sister Armstrong on Wednesday (she is my kind of cousins!) and we taught a 9 year old recent convert whose mom is not a member. The mother had a very depressed, beaten down demeanor and looked like she had been through a lot do to bad decisions and she presented such a stark contrast to her bright, bubbly, happy daughter who is full of light. There is a very clear difference between those who are followers of christ and those who aren't. I think children automatically have that light but when we get older we must continue to grow it or we will lose it. No wonder Jesus tells us to become like little children!

It is such a blessing to be able to utilize temple square anytime we want to take people there because the spirit is so strong and the temple is so beautiful. We had the chance to take both Mike and Sage at 2 separate times this week and the weather was beautiful!!!

​Mike in the purple shirt!

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As of this wednesday I will offically have been out 18 months. So what did I learn? well, before I go into specifics, one thing that has become more clear to me as I imagine myself trying to convey all that has transpired to my family and friends is that my mission is between me and the Lord. No one else will ever know in full the feelings I've felt, the miracles I've witnessed and the low points I've had throughout my mission. I am so grateful for God's omniscience. He has been there every single step of the way and I will always treasure my mission because of that. Luckily he will continue to be there if I continue to stay on the path His son paved for us in this life!

What I've Learned

I've learned that when you're a brand new missionary, a little nervous, and way too excited, it's very easy to mistakenly introduce yourself as "elder Pearson" when you're actually a sister.

I've learned that the gospel is true in every language and every culture, but every culture has it's differences and we need to try to understand the backgrounds others come from

I've learned that like President Monson says, we should never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved

I've learned that trials humble us and bring us to a point where the only person we can cry out to is our Father in Heaven

I've learned that people will typically talk very openly about their beliefs with you when you simply get to know them as a person and show them you care

I've learned that I really like to be right, but being right is not so important as keeping peace in any relationship :)

I've learned that I am happiest when I am swallowed up in the work of the Lord and constantly thinking about other people

I've learned, again, that the Book of Mormon is in fact the word of God and that Joseph Smith did not write it but merely translated it through the power of God

I've learned that when we simply ask God for something that we are in need of in the moment, he will respond, because he loves us (Matthew 7:7-11)

I've learned that packages and letters from home bring instant christmas-morning-type joy

I've learned that the most important things in life aren't things

I've learned that the atonement of Jesus Christ is not just for our sins, but it motivates us to do better, to be better, and to become like our Savior

I've learned to compromise and to enjoy doing what others enjoy simply because you love them

I've learned (through the examples of many returned missionaries) that I can still be a missionary when I get home!!!!

I've learned that without charity we really are nothing, and charity is not a developed skill, but a gift we can receive from Heaven if we ask for it unceasingly

I've learned that God knows and cares about the desires of our hearts, even the small ones

I've learned that families that are centered of Christ are healthier, happier, and the type of family I want to have

I've learned that the Lord has a plan for each of us if we will simply submit to His will and invite his spirit into our lives each and every day

My heart is overflowing with gratitude for this time in my life. I will never ever be able to try to repay the Lord for what he has given me, but I will certainly attempt. They say the second best thing in the world is dropping a missionary off, and the first best thing is getting them home again. I think seeing my family again will be the closest thing to what it will be like when we reunite after this life. Can't wait to see you all!!!!

Love,

Sister Pearson

Look at the balloons!

August 3, 2015



One of the highlights of this week was stopping by the Fruit Heights annual city celebration this Saturday and working the crowd! A lot of the people we teach were excited to see us there and we found a few people who want the missionaries to teach them! As we were talking to one girl that was interested, one of the less active people we are teaching came up and testified of how the missionary lessons have helped him get back to church to help her have a desire to learn! It was sweet.

We experienced so many miracles this week!!

1. We taught Brother Huang from China again and he prayed for the first time EVER in his life! It was one of the sweetest, most sincere prayers I have ever heard. We had left him with a restoration pamphlet that he studied and in his prayer he said "I feel really good when I read this book and I want to learn more and know more because this feeling is nice". Isn't that just the essence of the gospel? When we act in faith, we receive lasting peace and joy that doesn't come from worldly pleasures, but from the spirit of God.

2. We are teaching 2 people named Sage, one a less active 27 yr. old man and one a 9 year old girl who hasn't been baptized yet. BOTH came to church for the 2nd time in a row this sunday! Little sage also came with us to the baptism of her 8 yr old friend Ellie who has been helping us teach the missionary lessons to Sage. Then she got up in sacrament meeting and bore her testimony!

3. Mike, who hasn't come to church the past 2 weeks and cancelled the lesson we had set up this week, texted us saturday night and said that due to more family issues that came up, he wouldn't be able to make it to church the next day though he had committed to. Well, we began our fast that night and prayed for him and lo and behold he showed up and stayed for all 3 hours of church the next day! THAT was a miracle. Satan persuades us just to give up and block out spiritual things when bad things happen, but the savior leads us with light:) Mike chose to follow the light this weekend!

4. Amanda got baptized! the added miracle was that her husband, who hasn't really been around lately, said friday that he wasn't coming to the baptism and Amanda was distraught. Something changed and the next day he showed up! We sang the song "Oh My Father" to the tune of Come thou Fount and then shared a message about the plan of salvation and looked at her husband throughout the whole thing. He looked very touched and now we're just praying he will commit to taking the lessons because he works crazy hours, sometimes 75 hour weeks, and is hard to schedule with. He is open to learning though because his 5 year old keeps begging him to baptize him when he turns 8!

Here are pictures from the baptism:

​This was Ellie's baptism with Sage!! Sage is in the red dress She gave the Bishop th BIGGEST most wild handshake I have ever seen. She's kind of a character

​After Amanda got baptized! Sadly her husband left before we could get a picture with him in it;) But the tall one id his son who gives a good idea of how huge his dad is.

​Say hello to two of the most precious little boys God created. Trunell is the son of Amanda's cousin and Maurie (in the green shirt) is Amanda's 5 yr. old.

I'm so grateful for family. The gospel is what makes and keeps our families strong! I invite you to read and reread The Family A Proclamation to the World this week.

https://www.lds.org/topics/family-proclamation?lang=eng 

Time goes fast but there is still some left to keep getting tired out in the work of the Lord! It is the best feeling. :)

Love,

Sister Pearson