"pray for miracles"

Okay so I can finally email again. My Pday is on Monday and Elder Kulu and I will probably be on the computer a little after 10. We go to the stake center to email with the whole zone but we like to get there as soon as we can so we can beat the rush. And so we get a computer. Wow I’ve already been out here in the field 5 days. Time doesn’t really exist. I don’t know where it all goes. Anyways speaking of time I’ve neglected to send out birthday cards and stuff. I can’t send out letters anytime or email so you will have to forgive me. But I’d like to give a shout out to Dad happy birthday, Emily sorry its late happy birthday! Spencer and Caitlin I know I’m super late haha Happy birthday, and also aunt Doneen happy birthday. Don’t hate me if it was your birthday and I didn’t mention it. Okay so I left Tuesday night and got to the mission home and they took us our right away to go tracting! haha I didn’t get into a lesson but it was still fun. I was with one of the best missionaries in the area. Elder Mckenny I think was his name. He’s been assistant for over a year so I got to pick his brain for a while. then we slept and got up at 6, because that is when the President has us get up in this mission, and we met up with another group of missionaries who were coming to the same area they just split us up into two days. but we then had orientation took pictures and we met our Companions. I actually knew Elder kulu was going to be my companion before they announced it. I just had a feeling. But we greeted each other with a hug and it was the beginning of a great companionship. So elder kulu is Tongan but he’s not as big as most Tongans. But I would still consider him to be Big. haha he says he benches 405 and he weighs 225 and is maybe 6 foot. so he’s a big guy. also he was a boxer and grew up basically on the streets of the bay area. he’s a great guy kinda quiet so it forces me to talk at times and get out of my comfort zone but there are lots of things that I can learn from him. So we are assigned to labor in the Kearns Area. the missionaries call it dirty kearns. I think it’s because it’s a little more humble area. but we just cover the Western hills stake. it has 6 wards but one is a Spanish ward. so we actually have another set of missionaries that are over the whole stake as well but just focus on the Hispanics. Its kinda funny cause when we tract into Hispanics houses (and yes we do tract. in a perfect world we wouldn’t have too but the members aren’t all that focused on missionary work) and they ask us if we speak Spanish. we tell them no and then they pretend they don’t speak English its kinda funny. so we send the address to the Spanish missionaries so that they can’t run or hide. haha. So the stake is actually really small in size. it takes maybe 20 minutes to walk from one end to the other and that’s all we do. we just walk. we could bike but both of us would have to go out and buy one. Also one thing I learned and I’m a little bummed about is that basically no one serves up over the mountains. it is in our mission but there are only one set of Spanish missionaries and then sister missionaries up there. there is a visitors center up there but only sister work there. so I probably won't be going up there. unless I’m an assistant and I have to go talk with people. but that probs won’t happen. So in my specific area it is actually really hard. the members aren’t super helpful and the people we track into are usually Hispanic and catholic, or they are inactive members and they don’t even want to open the door. so it can get discouraging at times. but we have a few potential investigators that we will teach this week and we have one that is so close to baptism. his name is Floyd. he just doesn’t think he can get baptized because he says he can’t forgive others. I don’t know how to help him. So things are going good. I only have two blisters and they don’t really bug me. I’m praying harder than ever even in the MTC. The Lord promises success if we do our part. I’m doing my best to do my part so the rest is up to the Lord. We are fasting tomorrow for some investigators and that’s just about it. I’m sending pics home. So the Tongan is Kulu, then in my district there is Elder Simpson, Theodosis he’s the tallest, then enmis, berg, birtch he’s the black one, handa, yardley, crane, lee, and radmall. Teachers were brother ang and sister brinkerhoff. Love ya'll, pray for missionary experiences. One thing I learned is that we should always pray for miracles. but also pray for specific miracles.
Elder Salmon.

P.S. I’m sending a picture on some of my companions and I who taught Barbara. she let us take a picture with her

Read His Testimony

Hey so we got permission to email you today so I can tell you what’s happening. I am leaving tomorrow at 5 PM!!!! So that’s when I get on the bus. I’m not sure how long it will take to get to the airport to drop the other sister/elders off and then for them to drop us off in sandy. I don’t know if I can call you mom because the other missionaries call from the airport. But if I do call it will be probs after 530 and probably no later than 830 our time. So I think it’s later for you. But I would be calling from the mission home so it is entirely up to my mission president. Also I don’t know when my next PDay will be. It will probably be next Monday. First things first I want birthdays for everyone. haha I didn’t remember Spencer and Caitlin’s. Time doesn’t really exist in the mtc. Also I got your letter mom and I’ve already sent it back. should get it Wednesday or Thursday. I never used a password for my phone. and it will probably be whatever the manufacturer set it as. like 1111, or 0000, or maybe even 9999. I’m not sure. I never used it. also the volume should be on full volume and I don’t know how to tell you to change it. find a young man or woman. haha. it’s great you’re learning to play the piano mom. and I loved the John Wayne trail when I went on it. when I get into the field hopefully I’ll be able to send pictures of stuff. by the way I decided to write a short powerful testimony I’ll send it to you. and you can share it with future missionaries because this should be everyone’s testimony if they want to become a missionary. My name is James Salmon, some of my friends know me as other names, and even others have called me different things. I have been called many things but I have given all these up and have taken on the name of Christ and have decided to serve him and so I have the title of elder. the Same name set apart for general authorities because of the work we are to do. With this dedication I know that I am representing more than just myself and with that responsibility comes great expectations and I must live up to that expectations because my god has called me to serve him by Inviting others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and his atonement, baptism, receiving the gift of the holy ghost and enduring to the end. (missionary purpose) Because I Elder Salmon am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the son of god. (3nephi 5:13) I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life. For I must preach and prophesy unto this people and declare the word according to the truth which is in Christ. (jarom 1:26) Because I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. (Romans 1:16) Because I Elder Salmon will not deny the Christ. (Moroni 1:3) and this is the testimony which is in me

"I sometimes go into the shower with my clothes"

Okay parents This is my email. I seem to never have enough time to write. I just have so much to tell. First off, mom my phone is fine but the phone its self is not very good. It will work but the keyboard is not very good. So be patient with it. I didn’t complain because I knew I wouldn’t get a new one. Nor did I need one. And yes I am getting all the dear elders. I prefer to get those and letters to emails because I only have so much time. Yes I saw Brendan Harker and Colin Spear and Zander Sawyer. They are all doing fine. The MTC as I’ve told my district is like the refiners fire. Either you make it and are awesome or you burn haha. And so far they have made it. Time sure flies by. Important, I leave Tuesday for the mission home. That was changed. I leave at 5 so you can’t dear elder me on Tuesday unless they do that in the mission field and I don’t know about that. Things seem to be going good at home. I often think of everyone but not too much because they have me so busy. Which is probably good. I miss you all but I’m not home sick. I’m too excited to be here and do the work! So I can go to the temple on PDays only. So I’ll go again today. But I probs won’t do a session. I have other things to do. Pdays are actually really busy. I woke up 30 minutes earlier today. And they have a special place that missionaries get there stuff. So today we bought white ties and tie-dyed them. haha hopefully they turn out and we can wear them. they might be extreme. depending on the mission president I guess. Also my fake investigator Barbara committed to baptism! hehe I made her a deal. but it’s sad because my last time teaching here was yesterday! I’m going to miss her. She had such a sweet spirit. But I did get a picture with her. I’m drinking cranberry juice all the time so that I get my fiber and I don’t gain weight. I figured out my companion who is 6'7'' is the same weight as me. haha. kinda funny. But I get to play basketball and volleyball almost every day. but I don’t get to do laundry till pday so I sometimes go into the shower with my clothes so that they won’t stink. I don’t think of it as cleaning my clothes so I do and I don’t feel guilty haha. It amazing how much we learn each day and each week. they seem like they are so long and yet so short. days and weeks seem to blend together and it’s hard to keep track of what day is it. But my journal writing helps and my watch actually keeps the month and day for me. that’s nice. Its great getting mail from people. mail time is always the most exciting part. haha I feel loved because I get mail. Some people in my district haven’t got anything while others get like 4 a day. I don’t need that many. But before I leave someone should Dear elder Elder Birtch. he hasn’t got any because he gave his parents the wrong address. just say hi haha he will appreciate it. umm I don’t know what to tell you all. the church is true. haha But the MTC is terrible for Sicknesses. I’ve had a cough/runny nose almost the whole time I’ve been here and it seems like everyone is sick. I’m excited to get out of here. I also can’t wait to get into the field and meet my first comp!!! I hope he pushes me. it sounds like everyone at home is having a lot of fun. I haven’t been doing too badly here myself. I’m getting use to the gross water and thank goodness I don’t need to be in the sun too long. the rooms are air conditioned but meetings where they make us wear our suits can be really hot and tough. but I’ll take a little discomfort. The Lord did way more than that. I read our heritage, finished the book of Mormon restarted and I’m also reading Jesus the Christ and keeping up with my studying. I don’t have enough time to learn it all. I’m almost out of time again!!!! I miss you all and love you lots. I’m doing great and oh my shirts they don’t fit. the suit does. Bye Love you!

elder salmon

Hey So this is my Letter to Everyone! Send it to everyone please. Okay so I only have a certain amount of time so if the email just cuts off well that's because I had to send it and excuse the grammar in some places. So the first week was so cool! I love my district they are all really cool guys and we come from all very different backgrounds. Though I think I connect with Elder Birtch and Elder Radmall the most. Birtch is from Washington, Federal Way and Radmall is from here in Utah. So the first week I was really excited to start teaching and I thought I kinda knew what I was doing. I was wrong. I've had a lot of growth and what we call it here as growing pains. haha For most of the lessons that my companion and i teach i take the lead and i am talking most of the time because my companion is kinda quiet and still getting use to mission life. But he has a great testimony and he comes from more adversity than in my life and im really happy hes here. I'm really trying to make this transition for him a smooth as possible. So I've started writing in my journal every day mom and i hang up all my shirts, and i fold my pants up and put them in a drawer. i need more hangers but ill get those when i leave from people who leave and stuff. people are always leaving hangers and i can travel easier with them. And mom i keep my room clean. but i haven't made my bed everyday. The days are all planned out for me and it seems like we only have time to just eat and sleep between studying and teaching. I have Brother Ang and Sister Brinkerhoff and they are both so amazing. Great teachers and both return missionaries and they have just a great way of teaching us the gospel. The days seem so life times. its hard to remember exactly what happened since i feel like I've learned so much. In a good way the days seem long but then its amazing that I've already been here a week. Ive been really happy. I was stressed out and i didn't really know what to do about it. we had a lesson and i was talking to our sub Brother Yamada and at first i didnt like him. but he was my teacher so i decided to give him a chance. he actually really really helped me. while he was talking to me i literally had an inspiration. It was amazing. I thought, as long as im doing my best, as long as i forget myself and my needs and my expectations i can go to my heavenly father and say I've done my best and thats all that he expects of me. and if more things need to be done than i will need help and he will help me. i know he will and i know he has. I can't count how many times ive had words given to me in lesson devine inspiration from the lord. to say things that really touch them. Im almost out of time so i will tell you about Barbara. She is a nice lady about 50 and we got a referall to teach her. In real life she is eaither a member or nonmeber we dont know but we teach her as if shes not. anyways the first lesson did not go well. some of the other elders i was with made some mistakes and really confused her. so i made a deal that if she prayed to see if there was a God i would come back with scriptures to answer her questions. the next lesson went so well. we had limited time. she said she felt something when she prayed. she believes the bible so i showed her the scripture in galatians. we then proceeded to teach about enos and moses who saw God and she figured it out. it was so great so see it. then i gave the first vision and it was amazing seeing the spirit work. We gave her a book of mormon. its great seeing the joy of the spirit work on her. i hope she wants to be baptized. times up! ahhh I love you all i wish i had more time. ill write you. i got all your letters by the way. Love you bye!