"I have work to do"

Dear Family and Friends,

So this week went by quick. It was crunch time. We have all these investigators that were on date and now it looks like a bunch will fall off. But they will be baptised it just won’t all happen in one month. At one point we had 10 people on date for this month. And actually all 10 will be baptised just a matter of when.  I think one got stuck somewhere and couldn’t make it to church another was sick and just little things came up, but they still need to come to church to get baptised. So looks like April baptism- which is okay. We worked hard but we really were blessed. We had more projected than anyone in the zone. And it’s all because the Lord decided to bless us. We have found our weaknesses and we know what we need to work on.

Next week we have two baptisms! yes! The Moore kids are getting baptized; Ashton and Memphis, and better yet the dad is doing it. He is getting active and he now is doing awesome. He got over some sins repented and now wants to go to the temple. WE are working on his wife. She still doesn’t want to be baptised. But she will.  At the baptism there will be the confirmations, two kids will be getting the priesthood and the daughter will be getting a blessing. It will be a great baptism. The father also planned everything and we just need to show up and fill the font.

SOOO this week we had another miracle. This girl called us and said she wanted to take the discussion. We met with her and she said she wanted to get baptised as soon as possible. Sooo we are waiting for her to tell her family and I hope it will happen next weekend or the weekend after that. Her father might stop her. He’s a baptist minister and hates the church, but she is 29 so we will see.

Also I have had really bad luck with the dogs here and I do not trust dogs at all anymore. In fact I basically hate all dogs right now. I got bitten by a dog on Tuesday and I had to go to the instacare because it drew blood. It’s really not that bad but because there was blood I had to go there. I will be buying a squirt gun soon, and I really hate pit bulls.  But besides that i love it here.

So it has been getting a lot warmer here. I like it, although I’m not too excited about getting burned because I’m almost sure that it will happen. Today we are BBQ with the zone and one of our zone leaders is going home soon and is paying for all of it. Legit I know. WE are playing rugby and ultimate Frisbee, it’s going to be great!

So I’m am super jealous of everyone at home. I wish I could have been there.  I wanted to hear all those homecomings and play volleyball and hang out with the cousins. BUT I understand.  I have work to do. And I am loving it here. I don’t really ever have to worry about myself, just other people.

So from my studies and understanding of the mission I’ve come to the conclusion that the purpose of missions isn’t to spread the gospel. That is a secondary reason. I believe that the reason the Lord sends us on missions is to build us up. We are to be the next leaders in the mission. As we overcome our own weakness we become better missionaries and better people. Baptisms are just blessings that the Lord gives us to keep us happy! haha

Hope everyone is doing well. Love everyone

Elder Salmon