Hello everyone!
It always nice to write this email because it allows me to reflect
on the week. This week was tough. It was very discouraging despite the
successes that we were having. Victor decided he didn’t want to learn anymore
about the church. But his brother Vincent is sooo golden. He was saying how he
talks to himself about the gospel and that he ponders our lessons all the time
and prays each morning and night and we didn’t even ask him too. Also we are
working with a lot of less-actives. Like 8 or 9 families and I feel more like a
babysitter or a parent. We go in there and ask if they read there scriptures
gone to church and prayed. If they didn’t we chastise them lovingly and commit
them again. And we find a way to remind them. And a lot just avoid/don’t open
the door and just tell us to go away. it’s hard to give them a desire and to
see all the blessings that they could have.
There was one family that I was fed up with because the dad was
being a terrible example. The mom and the rest of the family want to come to
church and to change but he doesn’t. I asked him if he will come to church and
he said we will see. Well that is basically a no. We taught him the importance
and recommitted. Same answer. He just wasn’t interested. I asked him why he doesn’t
want to come to church. He said that he is tired of all the fake members and
the stuff they do. He said that his bishops are thieves and stake presidents
are terrible also. He gave some examples which I won’t repeat. But he also said
that just because he smokes shouldn’t keep him from the temple. Obviously he doesn’t
understand what commandments are. I straight up told him "why would anyone
else stop you from your salvation?" he didn’t have an answer. He was just
making up excuses. His kids were there so I asked him what he wants for his
family. He said what he wanted and I told him how to get it. And I said that as
the head of the household that his decisions will determine what he gets. That
if he isn’t an example for his kids that God will hold him accountable for his
actions because he knows that the church is true. The spirit was there don’t
get me wrong we did it with all the love and charity we had for the family. We can’t
give them a desire. They didn’t come to church the next morning.
With Floyd we set up a new quit day. He has had a hard life so we
didn’t want to drop him because he needs the structure of the gospel. So today
I am dropping off seeds to help him quit. Also he will be playing basketball
with the stake so maybe that will help him.
James Deng didn’t come to church even though we saw him right
before church and we went to pick him up. He knows the church is true but it’s
hard to show him that church is soo important. But he wants this because he
wants to teach it to his family and also he wants to take it to his country in
Sudan so he wants to learn all he can so that he can teach other people. I wish
we had a translator that spoke dinka. It would make it sooo much better.
But a tender mercy or a miracle... a family just moved into the
3rd ward here and they had a baby blessing. The grandfather blessed the baby
and I was wondering why. So we got introduced to the father and he is an
investigator!! The wife is active he is not. He has been humbled by his
situation that he grew up in and we had a really powerful first lesson with him
yesterday and we committed him to baptism. We always ask first lesson if they
are qualified. We just have to get over smoking and but he wants to be baptized.
I feel like everyone does some sort of drug here. There really are a lot of
people that smoke here.
But this week was good. I bought a 28 pound pumpkin to carve. I
got a deal on it. The cashier gave it to me for 10 cents a pound. But I didn’t
have time to carve it so it’s just sitting in my room. I’ll probably let Elder
Kulu (for you dad) punch it because he said he wanted to. But at a dinner appointment
I did carve a smaller one so I’m happy.
We played rugby again. It’s a lot of fun. I’m thinking about
playing when I get back! I have the right body type. haha So I guess I should
tell you who is in my district. Elder Kulu is now district leader and my
companion, we have elder Darquea old DL and elder Taylor Spanish speaking in
our same stake and in another stake elder Medeiros and elder Lucio Spanish
speaking. There are a lot of Hispanics here.
So I was really discouraged this week but in one of the many
church times that we go too we stopped in at primary. I love it there. Anyways
they sang Nephi’s courage and it just reminded me of all the stuff that Nephi
went through and how I’m being such a pansy for being sad. I just need to go
and do. That’s all I was called to do.
Oh and dad I’m not sure how many sisters; If I had to guess maybe
20 companionships. So a lot but soon it will be about as many as there are
guys; which is super cool. And I’m glad to hear about parker. I didn’t know if
he actually wanted to go. But now that he has made this decision I know he will
love it! Good job Parker! Well I guess this week was good. We have 4 people on
date this month and Elder Kulu and I are going to baptize all of them!!! It’s
going to happen! We have been working hard! And I have faith that these people
will be ready.
Love Elder Salmon
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