"The Greatest Easter Egg Hunt Ever"

Dear Everyone,

Well it was a really rough week for us (numbers wise) but I absolutely loved being able to remember what the Lord did for us. In the phone I made certain alarms at certain times so that at the exact moment I could remember what is happening. I had alarms going off in the middle of the night when the savior was paying the price for our sins but it was worth it.

 

Too many people cancelled appointments this week. So people were cancelling there salvation unfortunately. I can't really get too down because we are doing our best, but people's agency is getting in the way. Not much to report this week about the work because it was slow. But in the mission the baptisms were down hard core. Except in Kearns zone. We killed it out here. We had 32 baptism for March. Miracle madness and the next closest zone was 14 baptisms. We just got the best missionaries up here with some great leadership. Elder Swainsten and Talentino are the zone leaders. They keep the attitude up.

 

Well mom I don't know what to report on about myself. This morning I studied the scriptures and was studying on agency and accountability. I figured out I'm sinning because I don't always love to report and sometime I wait for my leaders to call me! haha. yeah I chastise myself when I study. PMG says our attitude for our mission directly correlates to how much we love the Lord and honor his priesthood. So if we hate our mission or are having a hard time we don't honor the priesthood and we don't Love God.

 

I am doing good though. It's very tiring and there are so many things I have to worry about and least of all I worry about myself. Don't worry I eat well. Sometimes I skip lunch because dinner seems so close. we eat at 5 here and that's way too early. But we get good food at dinner time. And my weight since you ask I am at 200 pounds. But we bike around all the time. I can actually touch the rim of a basketball hoop now. I love it. I'm hoping to dunk by the end of my mission. As long as I stay biking. Which I think I will always be able to do. None of the areas are too big that I couldn't bike if I didn't want too. Unfortunately I'm not growing taller. That would make it easier. In the morning elder Bennett and I ride down to zone workout which is all down hill and then after we play sports and run around a lot we rode back up which is a killer but for some reason I really like it.

 

Well mom if you were here in Kearns I could find you about 5 tailors. I use them often don't worry. I get the holes mended in my pants and my suits still look nice. Actually all my clothes are in pretty good shape really. The only ones that are wearing are my cheap black pants.

 

SOO we have an investigator who is 29 and has a little mental disability. She called us Saturday morning and said she wanted to be baptized that night. We were ecstatic. We had it all set up and then we went to the interview with the ZLs and she decided not to go through with it. I talked her into at least coming to watch a baptism right before hers would go down. After we talked about it and I almost talked her into being baptized right there! She is ready and she is just scared. And a little bipolar and doesn't liked being pressured. But it was very stressful and nothing came out of it. But I did learn a great lesson in my prayers afterwards. It's all in the Lord's time. everything that happens is all under his hands and will happen when he wants it to be done. And I was more going for the number than really helping her out. But she calls me every night to talk about how she's scared and all that. She is very needy but its going to be a great story after I'm done with the stress.

 

Well Kearns is warming up. The sun is shining and more people are outside for us to talk to. And new people are moving in! So potentials are moving in and its great. We just have to find them. It's the greatest Easter egg hunt ever because its so long. And when we break the eggs the people are baptized!!

 

Love everyone. Take care

 

Elder Salmon

"Will Beee Bacon"

Truly, He is risen!

Dear Family and Friends

We had a good week. Full of people cancelling there appointments and people not being home. But really what made it a great week was the Moore's baptism! it was on Saturday. The Dad is active and baptized his two kids. Gave two of his sons the priesthood, confirmed two of his sons, and gave his daughter a blessing. it was very powerful and sweet. He knows what he wants for his kids. he often spoke of the temple and marrying in it to his kids in the blessings even though he is not married in the temple. The Mom is still not a member and wont get baptized but she loves church and everything. i think she will be baptized eventually. and they will be sealed for time and eternity. and oh what joy i will have being with them in the celestial kingdom.

We have a bunch of other investigators but they are slow progressing. most cannot meet with us more than once a week. so its a little frustrating but i do think most will be baptized. we have had a lot of blessings and i'm excited to keep serving. i'm coming up on 7 and a half months in the Kearns area. the last 3 missionaries in my area were all here for nine months. So maybe i'll get one more transfer here.

We did get some snow and i wasn't too happy about because it also made the weather very cold. i got my bike fixed and running. and i put some bike sealant in the tires so i shouldn't be getting anymore flats. but the cold prevents us from biking or we might get frozen hands and faces.

One hard thing we are teaching a mentally handicapped person who is very worried about everything. she will often call me and tell me all her worries. as a missionary i cant give people advice. So i just say that God loves her and she should pray haha. She is ready to be baptized but is scared. so i'm trying to get her over that.

i am very excited for these next couple of weeks. Easter and conference! this is going to be great. but people aren't really any more interested. i find a lot of people here in Kearns either care a lot or don't care. Those that do care already have a church and don't want tot listen. haha. From the grace of God that is the only way we receive investigators.

Last Monday we had a zone BBQ! it was a lot of fun. we played rugby, soccer, and frisbee and had carne asada! And on Tuesday i had cows Tongue! finally. it taste pretty good. much better than menudo. Also something funny we had dinner at a members house and the wife left for about 20 minutes and went and picked up a pig! for a pet! haha i was dying for the rest of dinner. they named it Will Beee Bacon. First middle and last name. i love it. but i think they are getting rid of it because the pig bit the wife. haha

Anyways take care everyone.
Love Elder Salmon

The Moores

"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