2/19/14 weekly update

Hey everyone! This week has been alright so far. I got transferred again. My 4th area in 5 transfers. My new companion is Elder Dymock. We are in the Big Lake ward in the Wasilla stake. Its pretty busy out here, last week they taught 50 lessons. They added a second set of elders here, so thats pretty sweet. Our apartment is huge. The biggest one in the mission i think. Its a nice change from the smallest in the mission, which is what i was just in. Its a little cramped with 4 elders but it will be ok. We have a ping pong table! There was one family that was really sad to see me leave the Samoan ward. They are the Fiame family. They gave me a Western Samoa Tie, some western samoa kukui (coo-coo-ee), which are the beads in the picture. Thats kind of a big deal to Samoans. They also made me an ifaitaga (eef-eye-tanga), which is the thing that looks like a skirt. Missionaries wear that in Samoa and Tonga, and I am gonna wear it when I get home too! They are super expensive so its cool that they made them for us. They also gave us a lava-lava, which is a brightly colored and patterned ifaitaga. super cool. Big Lake is an ineteresting area. Its the far out of wasilla, so its kind of crazy. People living in like, plywood shacks and stuff. Like its super poor. There should be some good success here! love you all and hope you are well! love elder pawson :) p.s. my companion has a rough family situation and never -ever- gets mail. So feel free to send him a letter too :) I love all those quotes, thats pretty awesome, I've never thought of it that way! On Mon, Feb 17, 2014 at 7:02 PM, Barbara Pawson wrote: Hi, So Elder Patterson posted something on facebook that quoted Elder Bertilson. Here it is: This morning we dropped of missionaries at the airport, who are at the end of their 2 year journey. as we watched them go through security i was reminded of the first set of missionaries we took back in november. elder bertislon said something to me that was very profound. he said, "they are heroes.... and no one can tell. no one will ever know what they have just accomplished. they are heroes." this group certainly lived up to those standards. — with Vicki Hess and 4 others. I love that. It's so true. You guys are heroes.... I liked his status so much that I shared it with this comment: I love the way Elder Bertilson put that. Thank you for sharing it with us Elder Devin Patterson. I completely agree and it is one of the reasons I try to get so involved in the work. It is an honor to do what little I can to help all of these unsung heroes. This morning we dropped of missionaries at the airport, who are at the end of their 2 year journey. as we watched them go through security i was reminded of the first set of missionaries we took back in november. elder bertislon said something to me that was very profound. he said, "they are heroes.... and no one can tell. no one will ever know what they have just accomplished. they are heroes." this group certainly lived up to those standards. — with Vicki Hess and 4 others. And Elder Pena's mom loved it so much she shared it with this comment: Inspiring words from a hero.....I love my missionary and all missionaries who put their trust and faith in The Lord to serve him and our fellowman. Thank you for sharing Barbara Ann Pawson. This morning we dropped of missionaries at the airport, who are at the end of their 2 year journey. as we watched them go through security i was reminded of the first set of missionaries we took back in november. elder bertislon said something to me that was very profound. he said, "they are heroes.... and no one can tell. no one will ever know what they have just accomplished. they are heroes." this group certainly lived up to those standards. — with Vicki Hess and 4 others. We are so grateful for all that you and your fellow missionaries do and for the willingness to sacrifice a part of your life like this. You truly are heroes...and no one knows--sometimes even the missionary doesn't know...... So thank you. Love, Mom