I was kissed by a Jewish man

Thought that headline might catch some attention. Don't worry too much... it wasn't my fault. On Friday we had

exchanges and we met an awesome Jewish man. He talked to us for quite a while and he side-hugged Sister Carlin and kissed her on the temple. (For those of you who don't know, as missionaries we have quite a few

rules... hugs from guys and kisses are definitely
prohibited.) She turned beet red. I was cracking up. Then he turned to me and I was done for. He did the same thing to me as he said, "Aw, you're feeling left out." Anyways, that's one of the interesting stories from this week. Never thought that would happen. Missions are definitely unique little experiences for many reasons.

ALSO, one night we decided to go stop by a member's home. It was probably seven something, so it was pretty dark. We were parked in the front of their house for a little bit because we ended up making a few calls. As we were about to get out we noticed a man and his son walking their dog. Not thinking anything of it we cheerfully said, "HELLO! HOW ARE YOU?" and he nicely replied and went on his way. We went up to the door and eventually some kids answered as they were on the phone saying. "Oh, it's the Sister missionaries." Turns out the kid called his neighbors because a suspicious car was parked in front of their house. I guess that puts some sense behind a man and his son walking their dog in the pitch dark night. Apparently there have been burglaries around the neighborhood and we were unknowingly putting everyone on edge. That kid was quite prepared though. We must have terrified them when we knocked.

Sister Hopkins and I have been given a Tender Mercy from the Lord and we didn't have to speak at the funeral. It's definitely a blessing because we hadn't even prepared yet and the funeral would have been today. The woman decided to do the service elsewhere.

Strong woman story. There is an elderly woman in our ward who is a rock. She married and had 4 children. Her husband had Huntington's disease and passed away. Her oldest daughter died from Leukemia at 21. Her older son passed away from Huntington's and now she is taking care of her other son who has Huntington's as well. She fulfills all of her callings in the church and still is always smiling and is as positive as it gets. It is incredible! What she says to that is, "Ya know, God has given me many challenges, but I have always had the Gospel to

hold on to and that's what keeps me going." I know it's true.

Another angry woman sternly rejected us the other day. After she pointed out her no soliciting sign she somewhat yelled, "I AM A BIBLE BELIEVING CHRISTIAN! HAVE A GOOD DAY!" *slam* I didn't even have time to say "Well that's awesome! So are we!" Hmm. At least she wished us a good day. :)

So on exchanges an amazing thing happened. We went to go meet a lady who called the Bishop of their ward asking for the missionaries to come over. It was probably one of the most spiritual experiences ever. The woman had obviously been through a rough life and later as we spoke with her she broke down in tears and told us that she had struggled with heavy drug addictions, been to rehab, had eating disorders, and attempted suicide twice. She told us that the ONLY thing that was able to keep her sober was when her LDS friend invited her to church. She had been taking lessons prior, but moved. Her friend who has also lived a rough life informed us about his time spent in jail. These people wanted to be clean. And as we sat with them you could just feel how much God loved them and how Christ loved them. And it's in moments like that when all the mistakes they made don't even matter because you know Christ has suffered for ALL of them and wants nothing more than to help them. You could see the hope that was in their eyes as they felt the Spirit. That beats everything. I hope I can see where they are lead to afterwards. Witnessing that was definitely a miracle!

Well, the work has still been rough. Rejections and cancelled appointments, but different miracles have definitely come forth from it. As we work hard, God will bless us... even if it's in ways we don't really expect or don't make sense. 

"Miracles: An important element in the work of Jesus Christ... Christianity is founded on the greatest of all miracles, the resurrection of our Lord. If that be admitted, other miracles ceases to be improbable... Miracles were and are a response to faith, and its best encouragement. They were never wrought without prayer, felt need, and faith... Miracles are a part of the gospel of Jesus Christ. If miracles ceases it is because faith has ceased."

That is from the Bible Dictionary. Miracles still happen and they are in response to our faith in Christ. That's what we have been working on. It's pretty awesome actually.

Soooo..... I can't think of too much else. Apparently this past September was the wettest, but this October is the driest so far... who knows. And ummm, I got lucky and we went to Jack in the Box the day they started to make their pumpkin shakes... another Tender Mercy. ;) Haha! And we have the chili cook-off AND Fiddler on the Roof this week! Should be good! Welp, that's all I got.

Love you all!

Love,

Sister Pearson :)

Three months and still alive

I'm sorry to say that this weeks email is probably going to be lacking. I either didn't take note of too many things throughout the week, or for some reason there just weren't too many things to take not of. Nonetheless, I shall write. :)

Like my subject says, I passed my three month mark on the 10th. I only have 15 months left! Ah! And this Thursday will be my 100th day out. Time really does fly.

Transfers are today. Both Sister Hopkins and I are staying here in Lake Sawyer. Nothing changed for us.

Well, a few unique things have actually happened this week. We had our first screaming lady and our first door slam.

We were knocking on a few doors one day... as usual. We knocked on a particular door and a creepy pig-squeal sounding dog started barking. Eh, happens all the time. Then, a baby started crying. Okay, not too unusual. Well an EXTREMELY perturbed woman quickly zips up the blinds of a small window next to the door and screams "WHAT?! YOU MADE MY DOG BARK! YOU MADE MY BABY CRY! WHAT?!?! WHAT DO YOU WANT?!?! GET AWAY! GO!" Slightly startled, we didn't even get much of a reply, but walked on to the next house. To shake ourselves from the terrifying woman we let out some nervous laughs before we knocked the next door. The friendly neighbor answered the door and we were having a conversation when the angry woman comes out of her house WITH her baby in her arms and begins screaming at us again, "YOU THINK THIS IS FUNNY! MY BABY IS SICK!!! YOU WOKE HIM UP FROM A NAP! DID YOU NOT SEE THE NO SOLICITING SIGN?!?!" (everyone has those) We replied timidly, "Oh, we're not soliciting. We're missio..." "YOU'RE SOLICITING JESUS!!!!! CAN'T YOU JUST RESPECT PEOPLE!!! PRETTY SURE IT SAYS THAT IN THE BIBLE!!!" I muttered a "Sorry ma'am, we won't do it again." The nice neighbor was standing behind us the whole time and said to us "That was uncalled for. Don't let that bother you. I respect what you guys are doing." And then, out of my control... tears just started making their way down my face.I literally can't believe it! I felt so stupid! So we wished her a good day and that was that. Bahaha! It has been a rough couple of weeks, but I still do not know what I started crying. I think she had been up with that baby for a night or too, so we just prayed for her. Hope she's feeling better now. :)

Then yesterday we knocked on a door. Sister Hopkins started with "Hi, how are you?" The lady says, "Fine." I said "What was your name?" as I went to shake her hand and... BOOM! Haha! A clear slam... at least she didn't let us waste our time. :) Life is good,

A guy in the ward recently left to Napa Idaho for his mission, he is the only member in his family. His parents are awesome! We were visiting with them and they were telling us that the neighborhood FaceBook page had been talking about us the other day saying "DON'T ANSWER YOU DOORS! THOSE GIRLS ARE OUT THERE! WE DON'T KNOW WHO THEY ARE!" Apparently there have been people dressing up as missionaries and robbing people's houses and whatnot, so that makes sense why people don't answer their doors sometimes. I guess there will always be those people who ruin it for everyone else. I guess some members posted back letting them know that we were safe and we were actually real missionaries. Goodness, I didn't think I looked that intimidating. :P

Funny moment that had me laughing this week. We were planning on visiting some woman and I asked Sister Hopkins "What was the lady's name again?" and she replied with the utmost sincerity, "I'm prettttty sure it's Tina Fey." I was crying. I'm not sure if she knows who that is or not, but the lady's name was definitely not Tina Fey.

Missionary work has been kind of rough the past couple of weeks and we're praying for miracles. It's always nice to know you have an awesome ward to back you up. The members here are so supportive and loving it's incredible. Sister Christensen made us homemade Turkey Soup, the Graney's got me a little Seattle cup thing in case I was going to be transferred, and the Higgins are always a source of laughter. There are more of course; it's just amazing seeing so many different people all trying their best to serve God and follow Christ in any way they can.

Fun things to look forward to this month... we are going to be the judges of the ward Halloween Chili cook-off thing. We have an Apostle coming for a special stake conference. Fiddler on the Roof is going on and we are able to go and see it! And of course, finding and teaching people the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ! We are praying for miracles this transfer! :)

A young lady we met a few weeks ago had to deliver her babies early. She was having twins, but only one survived. They are planning on having a little funeral service next week. Bishop Despain asked us to speak at it... I didn't know he was actually serious... but apparently he is. So I'm counting on the Lord for this one. I have practically NEVER been to a funeral, have NO idea what it's like to lose someone I'm close to, and DON'T know what it's like to be a parent losing a child, BUT with God all things are possible, so I'm hoping I will be able to uplift and help these people.

Welp, all is well in Washington. Hope all is well at home.

Peace, love, and chicken grease.

Until next time, I'll be doin' it the Federal Way.

Love, Sister Pearson :)

Well, it happened...

I officially did not get a single letter from anyone this week; I am an official missionary. Didn't think I would reach this point so soon, but I am honored. Haha!

Well I'm starting with the random facts thing first because I didn't do any last week:

1. IT WAS THE RAINIEST SEPTEMBER IN HISTORY FOR WESTERN WASHINGTON!

...go figure. I'm thinking extreme weather follows me. Coldest winter in Provo, wettest September in Washington. Ah, it's precious really.

2. A tornado actually touched down somewhere around this side of Washington. Woot-woot!

3. Everyone has two doors. The screen door and the regular door. For someone who is knocking on doors half of the time, it can get irritating.

4. Hardly anyone has peep holes on their doors.

5. Apparently Sister Hopkins has seen them in Utah, but I have yet too see one in Cali so I'm putting it on here. Library-2-Go. It's a van library that rolls around and kids go in and get books. I thought that was pretty sweet.

Alright, I'm done. I can't think of anymore.

Well I'll begin by saying a lady in the ward made us some delicious enchiladas similar to my mom's so that was great.

Oh and I finally solved the mystery of the smell in the kitchen that has been haunting me since they day I got here in Lake Sawyer. Since the day I walked into the apartment, there was this rotten stench that would blow over me every now and then. It was in the kitchen. I searched multiple times a day for that smell. Sister Hopkins thought I was crazy, but I could not deny the smell I smelled. FINALLY, a few days ago. I was searching through the spices in the small cupboard above the stove and there it was... I reached for a plastic produce bag and pulled out a decent sized rotting garlic clove!!! It was horrendous. But the mystery has been solved and my senses were justified. I am happy to say our apartment has been garlic free for 6 days now.

We had the chance to make my mom's chocolate chip cookies and put them in a cute little basket and leave it on the Mission President's door. Funny lately we I think God has definitely been directing us to show up places and do little things for people just at the right times. President Eaton said he had an extremely long day and it was wonderful walking up to the door with that little gift there. Similar to that, there is a lady we talk to every now and then who we randomly felt we should see at like 8:00 PM one night (which over here feels and looks like midnight) and after knocking on her door and talking to her for a while, she told us "You know what. Today I was thinking the Sisters haven't stopped by in a while. They're gonna come today. I really needed you today." It is an amazing feeling knowing you are being directed to help other people just when they need it.

Sister Hopkins fell asleep while I was praying one morning. That was lovely and hilarious to open my eyes and find my little companion sound asleep. Funny thing is it was probably like 30 seconds. Haha. The mission wipes you out I guess.

I somehow managed to open the car door on my shin the other day. There is a delightful bruise as evidence.

We also witnessed an intense dog attack yesterday. Big dog attacked little dog. Big man-owner attacked big dog. It was quite the scene. They were rolling on the floor trying to rip the dog off.

Being a missionary is incredible! Yet, everyday you get your heart broken. Every time someone sets up an appointment with us and then fails to be there... heart break. Every time you know you can help someone, but they won't let you... heart break. Every time you extend a commitment to someone that they don't keep... heart break. It's like an emotional roller coaster hour by hour and day by day, but knowing I'm being an instrument in God's hands I would do it over again.

I have decided to find miracles in everyday. I am keeping a miracle journal where I just write out some of the daily miracles I am able to witness. Especially when things aren't exactly going our way, I think it's always a great thing to note the good. I listened to a General Conference talk given by President Deiter F. Uchtdorf, the other day and he said something along the lines of this "It's not a race, it's a journey; enjoy the moment. Sometimes in life, we are so focused on the finish line we forget to enjoy the journey... there is something in each day to embrace and cherish." I have decided to enjoy the journey. I will not look forward to the moment I get to hit the pillow at night. I will not look forward to the day I am going to go home. I want to find joy in the journey. Looking ahead is good to some extent, but not if it's preventing you from enjoying what you have right now.

Well it looks like my email is going to shut off!

Until next time I will be doing it the Federal Way!

Love, Sister Pearson  :)

P.S. GO WATCH GENERAL CONFERENCE. IT WAS AMAZING! 

Well. It is true.

Missions honestly warp your sense of time. The days feel like months and the weeks feel like days. I don't know how it works, but that's literally what it is. This transfer has been extremely slow, but terribly fast. I cannot believe that I am already at my 5th week here in Lake Sawyer. It just doesn't feel real.

The true Washington has revealed itself to me. No more sunshine or heat. Just rain, rain, and more rain. Cold rain. It's sometimes annoying, but doesn't bother me much really... not yet anyways. We'll see how I feel about it next year.

Some interesting things have happened this week. I love that about missions. Always interesting. It's awesome. Aside from the fact that we watched a spider spinning it's web at a doorstep, we witnessed a crow attacking a squirrel, and I made Sister Hopkins the first PB&J she's eaten since being on her mission (I don't know how that's possible. My first week I had PB&J for breakfast, lunch, and dinner multiple times), there are a couple other things I will remember.

We got out of our car to begin tracting... we've been doing A LOT of that lately. And I cat came to greet us. Turns out the cat liked us and decided to follow us for 30 minutes. It would go up to all of the doors and listen to the dogs sniffing on the other side. I accidentally shut it in a few of the screen doors. It was tripping me. I tried shooing it away, but Sister Hopkins couldn't resist. Sooo, we get to a door. And a soon as the door cracks open BOOM! Two dogs bolt threw the doors to attack the cat. Their frantic, shoeless owner was running behind them until she realized she needed shoes. I threw my bag and tried getting the dogs. I asked her if she would like me to pick the one up and bring it inside (somewhat expecting her to say no). She said yes. That thing was a lead ball. Surprisingly enough, she wasn't to upset. Although she did say "I knew I shouldn't have answered the door." Welp, that always makes you feel loved.

Another one. One house had a little mud room type thing in the front of it and we didn't know whether we should knock on that door or the actual door inside. I started going inside to knock on the actual door when the door swung open to reveal a lady inside. A voice in the background  yelled "WHO IS IT?!?!?!" And the woman looking at me yelled back at her "It's some WHITE lady!" I quickly left the mud room and we talked to the woman who was cooking dinner at 3 PM outside. Looks like I'm still the white girl here in Washington too.

It was Sister Hopkin's 5 month mark this week and she had never had a Jack in the Box taco. That was unacceptable, so I bought her some in celebration. Don't worry I got her some Cold Stone too.

One story I forgot to mention last week was about an awesome lady in the ward who had me and Sister Hopkins cracking up the whole time we were at dinner. She is from Poland. Went to school in England. Her friend from Peru was talking the missionary lessons, and being raised Catholic I believe, the Polish lady joined her friend to make sure she didn't join the Church. The Polish woman ended up getting baptized before her friend. Looks like her view turned around a bit. Anywho, she is a married woman with three kids and she's literally in love with Jacob Black. That is probably common and it wouldn't entertain me half as much with anyone else, but it is just so much funnier hearing her talk about him in her awesome accent. That night, her teenage son farted across the table while we were all eating and she said in her accent "Goo to yhour rhoom yew deesgustin vittle boy." It was great.

So we have been offering everyone we see to mow their lawns and help them in their yard and everything. I guess they honestly don't think girls in skirts can do much. Sad, sad, sad. Everyone underestimates us. Even after promising them that we are being serious they just laugh at us. Maybe someday they'll let us.

I was soooo happy I was able to attend Kayden's baptism from my last area on Saturday. Kayden was a 9 year old boy who has some form of Autism I believe. Maybe Asperger's..? I'm not sure. I just know he is a genius and he's incredible. He was so well behaved and wonderful that day and he definitely knew what he was doing. You could tell that he really wanted his sins washed away and he wanted to try to follow Christ. The first day I met him he told me how much God loved him because he saved him when he was born really sick.

Also, the Relief Society broadcast was on Saturday and it was amazing. Crazy to see all the Sister Missionaries in the choir. I saw two girls from BYU in it. One going to Texas, the other to Tahiti. Anywho, I absolutely loved hearing from President Monson. It's incredible to hear a Prophet of God. I know I haven't taken full advantage of it growing up because I never really took the time to think about it. Someone like Noah or Abraham or Moses speaking to us. Telling us, as they told the people of their time, things that we need to hear. Things to help us. President Monson talked about how God has an infinite love for each and everyone of us regardless of position, status, or personality. Which sounds cliche, but it is soooo true. It's the small things like that that are repeated over and over because we constantly need to be reminded. Ah, we are just so human sometimes. He also talked about prayer and how we should turn to prayer whenever we have feelings of doubt or discouragement or anything really.

I am so privileged to be out here serving the Lord. I seriously can't believe that I have 18 months to try to forget myself and love everyone else. There are amazing people in this world. I know that I'm doing what God wants me to be doing right now because I still love all these people who are slamming their doors on me. I even love whoever is sitting next to me here in the library who smells like old cheese and mold. :) Ah, life is wonderful.

Miss and love you all! 

Love,

Sister Pearson. :)