Christmas post

Dear Everyone,

Well I can't say this week was a lot of fun. I did enjoy being able to talk to you mom and dad and see Rachel and Scott in the background and visit a little with Hannah. That was fun. I was a little worried at first when I called. I didn't know what I would say. But we had a good visit for about an hour and a half. That day was crazy for me. We have a car so we picked up two other elders who have been out for a while and we just visited families that they knew. Which is fine. All the people I know are in my area for right now. So I enjoyed meeting new people and just being around other families during the holidays. The house I skyped at I didn't even know their names when we got there but they were kind enough to let me use their computer. I think they lived in Riverton... but I'm not really sure.

Christmas eve we had Elder Dallin H Oaks come from the quorum of the 12 and he spoke to us! That was really cool. I got to shake his hand and talk with him for a minute. Sometimes I think they receive instant inspiration about who you are as a person. I'm glad I'm not embarrassed about who I am. He gave a great talk and so did his wife and we didn't actually get home until very late. But hey you don't argue with an apostle. He is the one who kept us there after all. Also Christmas Eve Elder Kulu and I decided to help out the sorry drivers of Utah by pushing their cars up the hill by our area. We were there for about 2 hours or so pushing cars. Many people were grateful but there were others who expected us to help them and yet there were others who we would instruct them on how best to get out of the snow and they would not listen to us. They would keep doing what they were doing and they would wonder why they are still stuck. It felt like being a missionary. We go about telling people how they can have better lives and we teach them we are even there to help push them out but they have to listen to us and do their part or they will stay stuck. Some people just didn't know what to do and weren't listening so I had to actually get in and drive the car out. Well it was a fun experience.

Unfortunately though that was kinda were my fun ended. I got sick and was out of commission for a while. I don't remember what day but I went to the doctors and he told me I had the flu. And he also told me to expect to be sick for like 7-12 days. So I've been sick since Wednesday and really haven't been doing anything but sleeping, watching church videos and reading my scriptures. And I hate it. I really wanted to be out there working so I don't have much to report about what happened this week because I don't really know what happened. We did a lot more splits so that we could get stuff done in our area. We did however have a baptism yesterday so suspect that most of the time elder kulu was getting that ready.

I was able to go to the baptism which was really nice. I didn't think I would be well enough for it but I got there and I felt really good comparatively. Anyways a member of the bishopric didn't show up even though we told them multiple times we needed one there. They delegated to the young men’s leader there. So I ended up conducting again and it was a miracle that I could do it. Also on Sunday it was nice I was able to stand in the circle for Ron Nichols as he received the Aaronic priesthood. That was a cool moment.

But other than that this week was pretty uneventful for me. I didn't do much but I got to see a lot of blessings. I really am doing better right now. I don't know if I’m well enough to go out in the cold and do work. But we'll see.  Last night I got the best night’s sleep in a long time. A few members here have been helping me out a lot. The Palacios' (where we stay) made me a soup which was good and she gave me more vitamin c as well as herbal tea. And the Nichols gave me some good drugs to help me sleep and to boost my immune system. So I'm being taken care of.

I love you all and I hope that you area all well and enjoying the holiday season more than I am! Take care and until next time.

Elder Salmon

Sorry it took so long but enjoy!

Alrighty then... this past week was transfer and I’m sure you all are just dying to know what happened!!! haha Drum roll please... I’m staying here in Kearns in the western hills stake with Elder Kulu who is staying district leader.
 But we did lose two other elders in our district and pick up a greeny and another elder from park city. We were all anticipating something exciting for us but President Miller likes to keep people in one spot for a long time apparently. Elder Kulu will be here for 9 months now at the end of the transfer and I will be here for 4 months myself and will probably take over the area when elder Kulu leaves, which is alright.

So to answer your questions dad, I can Skype from a member’s house just about any time. But I will need an address to call or whatever I can’t remember what I need but I think if you send me riches email address and name of Skype account I should be able to find you. And I can call whenever really. So just give me a time so I can tell a member family when I need to user there computer. Also President Miller doesn’t give us a time limit to call so I am very flexible so just work it out with sister Salmon a time that you would like both of us to call. And remember the change in time zones. We just go around to members houses and just visit and add support to whoever needs it. It should be a chill day. But also Christmas eve we will be visited by an apostle, we don’t know who yet but he will speak to us and we will also get another apostle new years eve so I am really looking forward to those two days.

Well here in Kearns is snowed again. I really like it up here when it snows because we can see the whole valley so it looks really cool especially at night. I am really starting to like it here. Mostly because the people are pretty cool but the areas not bad.

We had a couple of cool things happen this week. We had our mission Christmas party! It was a lot of fun. WE had a great lunch and there was a talent show. The Elders and sister that performed were all very good. There are a lot of talented people here in our mission. And there were some really funny people who did great acts and sang good songs with some funny lyrics. Someone sang about Kearns or dirty Kearns as everyone calls it. It is very dirty here so I got a kick out of it. WE had a few people speak to us. The Presidents of the family history center in park city both gave us some great words of wisdom.

Also I had the great opportunity to speak in church I was happy though that I had some notice so I did get to prepare a pretty good talk at least I think I did. I spoke with a high councilman on the birth of Christ and I spoke on the gifts that were given that night on the first Christmas. Not the things the wise men brought.

And we also had a baptism! Gabby Salazar got baptized. She is 10 and has a lot of spunk. I taught most of the time because elder Kulu would get a little frustrated with her. Haha I just kept remembering Audrey and how they are about the same age so it was fine for me. It was a great baptism and we had a lot of support from the ward. We just need to make sure the family stays active so we will probably still go there a lot and get them great home teachers.

Umm not much else happened. I am not being trained so I don’t study for 3 hours anymore in the morning which I am sad about. But it feels good to be a normal missionary and have respect from other missionaries and the people. I still think it’s funny when people ask us for advice with their families, relationships, and other stuff. We try not to get too involved with people on that stuff and just stick to the scriptures.

We found two new investigators. A part member family, the wife is not a member and has a lot of doubts about the LDS church and we had a really good lesson in which she talked a lot and we showed her that the book of Mormon and the bible really work hand in hand with each other. The spirit was strong but we didn’t invite to baptism which was weird because she was offended by other missionaries because they pushed her too hard. she we were happy to talk with her and I think she likes us more because we listened to her and didn’t force her into anything. The other investigator was a former, we baptized his brother and he said he didn’t want to get baptized so we dropped him. Then we swung by this week and he changed his mind. After 3 months he decided to be baptized. So we will have another on the 30th for sure. I’m really excited for him. We got him and his brother’s clothes from the D.I. so that they look good at church.

Well I’m doing really great. I am having a lot of fun opening my presents. Well I’m letting Elder Kulu do it because I don't think he has ever opened presents before which is sad but I share my stuff with him and read the stories out loud at night. I don't know if he listens though. I'm nice and warm and excited to be able to talk to you face to face! There is a lot to tell you that I don't really have time to email to you. But I hope everything is going well at home. Oh Claire and Dan I’m sending your present home because I don't have your address sooo sorry! haha.

Well life’s great. Hope everyone is doing well. Love you all.
Elder Salmon