"My Jaw Dropped"

Dear Family and Friends

 

Man I’m out here in Sandy! We are not in Kearns anymore. It’s different. But it is good. I do enjoy myself here and I am having a lot of fun getting to know the bishops and stuff. So my first week or so I had appointments with the bishops and stake president so that we could get to know them and they could see us and see how hard we want to work so they feel comfortable giving us referrals. We have been contacting a lot and trying to find the elect. We had to drop a few off the so call investigators here that haven’t been to church and don’t even want to come to church. So now we are working on finding our own. It can be a struggle. Where the main ward lives not many people move in and out so it’s hard. We have apartments in our area which is really nice but finding a time when people are home is rough. I see a lot of potential here and success will come with time I’m sure. I am definitely learning a lot about patience. All I want to do is teach but hey that’s not missionary work.

A family that I think elder Dresen and I have really touched is the Watts family. They are less active and have kind of felt forgotten by past missionaries because it’s not a baptism when we teach them. It is a reactivation. So because elder Dresen and I taught them like investigators and really showed our love for them and helping them to get sealed in the temple they have changed and they seem brighter and happier. In fact they said they were close to giving up because they were not feeling the spirit when the other elders taught. Our first lesson was very powerful with them. They are a really cool couple and I’ve learned a lot from both of them. Sister Watts is one of the most dedicated and avid scripture readers. She often texts us topics she wants us to teach them next.

 

We live with a cool English woman and her husband. They are pretty normal compared to the last house I lived in. I love having a car though. We got a brand New CAR last week. hahaha its a 2013 Chevy Cruz! It had 94 miles on it when I got it. It has some good acceleration. It hasn’t been too warm so we have been driving more often than I usually like.

 

 I’m doing well. I gave myself a haircut this morning and I think I did a pretty good job again. I’m getting better. We have weights downstairs so our workouts are good. AND I HAVE MY JUMP ROPE AND I'M GETTING BETTER.

 

We had a really crazy lesson with a Pakistani Muslim. I had no idea what to do so I invited this guy who works for the church and is the head interpreter for arabic. But the Muslim (syed) only wanted to talk to him because he knew where he came from It was a super long lesson and by the end of it syed said "I’m scared to find out because I’m scared your religion is right." my jaw dropped. This guy did an amazing job and really strengthened my testimony and taught me a lot about how much more I should learn about the atonement. Sandy is warmer than Kearns... And I’m glad the sun is out way more.

 

Hope you all are doing well. Love you all.

Elder Salmon

"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