Hellooooo everyone! :)

I hope you all are doing well. I'm pretty dandy myself. Can't complain. Hmmm, I wanted to start off by telling an sweet story I forgot to mention last week.

A High Councilman from Auburn was driving down some road when he saw a pregnant lady walking down the street crying. He passed and then had the prompting that he should turn back around and find her. He prayed so he could know where she was. And found her in a Starbucks. He bought her some food and they talked a lot. Turns out she's pregnant with twins. Neither her nor her boyfriend have jobs and naturally, she was overwhelmed by life. He got her information and found she was in our area. She is now someone we are going to be teaching. A sweet woman with hard circumstances. The Lord really knows what He's doing though. Luckily that man listened to the Holy Ghost and went back to find her. Miracles can happen.

So. My companion sleep talks. It's been pretty fantastic entertainment since I've been here. At various times in the night/early morning I just lay in bed, listen to her little conversations with herself, and then go back to sleep when they're over. At 2:10 AM the other day I heard some mumbling and upon closer listening, I found that she was praying. In her sleep. Ah, what a dedicated missionary. Haha, I love Sister Hopkins. :)

We had an exchange this week. I went back to Fairwood for a day. It was such a weird feeling. I felt like it wasn't even my area anymore... because it's not. Lake Sawyer is where I'm supposed to be at this time. For some reason or another... I'm trying to figure it out. Anywho, we had some pretty funny door knocking experiences there. We were going around apartments at the time and we knocked on some door to hear an old man literally screaming at us "COMEEEEE INNNNN! JUST COME INNNNN!" We ran up the stairs and hid. Holding our breath, we heard him come and open the door and then shut it again. Also, it was my first time talking to someone without them opening a door or having any windows. Slipping the card under the door status. Don't know why she didn't want to face us. People are curious.

So the weather is really kicking in. We've been warned of upcoming storms and have been sleeping to the sound of thunder. Not that I hear it too much. When I hit that pillow, I'm out cold. So anyways, I don't plan on having dry feet for the next 8 months or so. All is well. I'm loving it. The leaves are falling (from what trees actually

change colors up here) so that's been fun. I love the fall.

This Sunday I had a pathetic introduction to the ward. Apparently they forgot to announce last week that I was the new missionary in the ward, so they tried to remember this week. He ended up saying "And for all of you who don't know we have a new missionary in the ward... Sister Hopkins." Then those in the congregation who actually have met me started saying "No, Sister Pearson!" It was a mass confusion and I stood up and raised my hand because he didn't know where I was... and yeah. So it was awkward. Just my luck. Doesn't surprise me. Haha. :) I just bask in those kind of moments. They seem to follow me.

Also, Sister Hopkins has gotten into the routine of thinking I have stolen her food. From sandwiches to granola bars she always looks at me with a "What did you do with it?" kinda look. Funny thing is, I've never touched her things. We always just end up cracking up. She's such a funny gal. Honestly, the sweetest girl. I'm lucky to have her as my companion.

One of the most wonderful aspect of missionary work is meeting SO many of God's wonderful children. A specific couple we met as really just opened my eyes lately. This couple was on the street watching their grandson jump his bike when we stopped to talk to them. The wife has MS and is completely paralyzed besides the movement of her face. The husband stays by her side and helps her. He was warming her legs with his hands as it was getting a little cold outside. What Christ like love! And the woman. Seriously, she was completely happy. Saying Jesus has my back and everyday is wonderful. We talked about how because Christ was resurrected, we all will be too; in perfect physical conditions. All who suffer from physical ailments will be restored to a perfect state. She agreed. It is incredible how much focus we give to our problems and challenges that we forget to look at the bigger picture. This woman knew that this life we have right now is but a moment. When we can see things like that, how much more positive we can be! I have met them only twice, but have such a love for this couple.

UNCOMFORTABLE MOMENT AWARD GOES TO... the man in the ward who tells you that you remind them of their ex-girlfriend. This man is literally like 50 and married. Uhhhhh.....

 

Random Things of Washington:

- Apparently Washingtonians are known for their pure english. As in, they don't really have an accent... not sure if I've really come to find that that is true or not. I haven't noticed it.

- There are power outages every year. At least in the areas I've been in. Flashlights and candles baby. Flashlights and candles. So stoked.

- Oh! Their ice-cream trucks are either mini-vans with a giant freezer and a mom driving it around or they have these teeeeeny little like electric cars that look like golf carts kind of that just roll all around town. It's hilarious. Not sure I would trust them or not though. I haven't gotten too close.

What I have been thinking a lot about recently is priorities. In Matthew 16:26 it states "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" It just hit me. How many times to we put worldly things above spiritual things? A LOT! When we die, we only have so much we can take. Our memories, knowledge, personalities, talents, and relationships... things like that. It won't matter how much money we make. It won't matter how many episodes of some show we've watched or how many football games we devoted our Sundays to. I think I might start asking myself the question "Am I progressing towards God... or towards the world?" Bettering my family, my friends, and myself is what's truly important. Sometimes that's hard to remember.

Well, I better be off! Life's good in Kent. I'll talk to you all later!

Love, 

Sister Pearson. :)