12/30/13 Weekly Update!

Hey everyone, what a week I've had!! This week we weren't allowed to work for thurday. It was -40 and the cars weren't working, and they didn't want us walking around. Man that was so boring!! But we survived. I split wood for a member on Saturday. That was really fun. I felt like a lumberjack. I wanted to get some pics but I left my camera at home. its ok, I probably would have broken it lol. I was pretty sore yesterday, but it was still fun. Umm. Christmas was good, I got a bunch of cards, thanks guys! We weren't allowd to linger in houses though, so we kept moving. We didn't actually get to see anyone else besides the people we called home from, but thats ok :). I miss you all and hope you are all well! The pictures I'm sending are a couple from my caroling we did when it was-40, and a picture Elder Poulsen and I took when we were snowed in haha. Love ya! Elder Pawson

12/23/13 Weekly Update!

Hey everyone! Things are going well here. We still don't have any investigators or any less actives to teach, but we have been teaching the active members! We share a video from the hastening the work site on LDS.org, jsut seach Hastening the Work and you will see the site. The videos under "Members and Missionaries" are what we show. Then we talk about how we are there to help them share the gospel, not guilt them into it. Our approach is "How can we help you in your efforts to share the gospel?" instead of "Have you got anyone we can teach?" I hated that question so much from the Wyoming Elders! This approach is SO much better. We talk about who they have in their life that may be prepared to hear the message from them. We also talk about Elder Anderson's talk, "Its a Miracle," where he talks about how important members are in missionary work. We also share the promise that as we pray to know who is prepared to hear the gospel from us, that names and faces will be brought to our minds by the HOly Ghost, and those people are ready for us! Then we offer to help them by practising talking to them, or helping them with ideas, or getting them materials, like copies fo the Book of Mormon, pass along cards, or DVDs. It worked really well in O'Malley. Its been lukewarm here, but I don't think this ward has had a set of elders that actually tried to motivate the members in a long time. We can do it though! In sadder news, my camera is breaking :(. The lens covrer doesn't close all the way, and when it opens, it doesn't open all the way! I have to manually push it up. I think if I can get to a Best Buy then I can have them look up my purchase and maybe fix it. Too bad the nearest one is 500 miles away in Anchorage haha. Elder Poulsen and I are starting to get along better. We have comp inventory like, every other day, but it seems to help. The first picture I sent is from PDay. We usually write letters together and then play sports, typical Missionary fare. The other two pictures are somethign that is unique to Alaska. People living in Cabins! Not liek cabins back home, these things are SMALL. Like the size of my bedroom back home is the size of the house. No running water either. But they put siding on their outhouses, thats the third picture. Well I love you all and hope you are all well!!! Love ELder Pawson

12/16/13 Weekly Update

Hey everyone. Another week in the books. We have been trying lots of people. We haven't been getting ni much. People seem to be too busy, and some don't have much interest in learning from us. In happier news, I was in a car accident last week. Just a little fender bender. It wasn't my fault either, although it happened on my driving day. There were two cars behind us and I was turning left. Signal on, stopped. The third car decided to pass both the other cars as I was turning, so I stopped to let him go past, and the guy behind me drove into me. Kinda stinks, I don't think I will lose my DPs, cuz I think it will go down as unpreventable. We will see. had interviews with President this weekend. Talked alot about our ward and what we need to do to get some work up here. Hopefully we can get some things going, because we still have no one to teach. I know we cna get it going though. Hope this finds you well, Love you all! Love Elder Pawson

12/16/13 Pictures

P day, drove over 100 miles one day, River Song street!

12/9/13 Weekly Update!

Hey Everyone, this week was kind of crazy. We visited everyone on the ward roster that we didn't know, tryin gto find some solid Less ACtives or part members to teach. We visited over 100 people, and only 5 let us in! It was tough. We did find an awesome family, the Mathis family. She is a member and her whole family is catholic, and love being catholic haha. SO did my mom. But they invited us for dinner this week and want us to come by, so we will see what we can do! Oh, I forgot to mention somethng that happened in the temple. No not IN the temple haha. My temple reccomend had gotten wet somehow, and was basically ruined. You could still read everything but it wouldn't scan. So the guy sat there and tried to scan it a billlion times. He went and got the temple president who couldn't scan it or read the number to enter it in. He looks at me and says, "we have to wait for pres beesley to come here." I was like are you kidding? Just look at it and let me in!! Pres came up a few minutes later and they told him what happened, he looks at them, looks at me, and says, "Elder Pawson, just go in. This isn't that big of a deal." It was funny haha. I have interviews on saturday with Pres, so he is going to give me a new reccomend so it doesn't happen again! I've done a ton of service since I've gotten here. Like a few hours a day. Mostly moving stuff and stacking wood. It seems like theres always something that needs to be done. It's been a change since Anchorage where we didn't do much service at all. Its been so warm here lately too! Everyday is like 30 degreees. I'm so sick of it. Wednesday it is supposed to be back down to -20 so I'm looking forward to that. I forgot my camera cord today, so I can't send any pictures. Sorry!!! Hope you are all well and hope you are having a great time! Love Elder Pawosn

12/2/13 pictures!

Here are some more pics from fairbanks!!

12/2/13 Weekly Update!

Hey Everyone! Things are going good here. I've been in Fairbanks for almost a week now. It is pretty darn cold here. The average temperature has been -25 degrees. It will soon be around -40 pretty much all the time in a week or so is what I hear. My new ward is good. They seem to like missionaries. They have had missionaries who hang out at houses all the time, but it doesn't seem to bother them like it did in my old area. There aren't any investigators still, but there are some good less actives to work with and I know the work will get really busy here before I know it. My new companion is pretty cool too. It's a little different being with someone so fresh on their mission, so it has been an adjustment. He doesn't like the way I plan or anything so having to learn to compromise has been different. But we are really getting a long and I love him to death!!! The first picture I attached is of him. The second picture I attached is of Elder Crist. He came out a transfer after me, and he is so cool! He's really funny and loves being out. I hope i get to serve with him someday. The third picture is one that just goes to show everythign about fairbanks. It's -27 degrees, and its about 4 o clock. I'll send a second email with som emore pics too. I have taken a good number since I got here, i guess its just more alaska-y here. I've been sick for a few weeks. Cough and nose crud. My ear is now stuffed up too. My new bishop is an ear nose and throat doctor, and he said I'm on the downswing and theres really nothign I can do except ride it out. He says since my ear is stuffed I should be almost done. That's nice. Well I think that is everything I have to say. Love you all and hope you are well! Love Elder Pawson