This last week went by so slowly for me and my companion, yet so many great things have happened. We were able to pick up three new investigators this last week. Benjamin and Randy are a young couple, Benjamin was on you tube and saw a video about Joseph Smith which linked him to Mormon.org. He referred himself and asked for a Book of Mormon. We were able to go over there this last week with a couple in our ward and share the story of the restoration and how the book of Mormon is the key stone of our religion. Our other investigator is Saddie Reed, she is something else. Sister Shutt and I found her a couple months ago and she said she'd call us when her life wasn't too busy. She called us last week and we had a good discussion with her Monday and another on Saturday. She's battling some health problems currently which makes it hard to meet because she's constantly going to the doctors. Cleo, is one of our most progressing investigators. She came to church again yesterday. This was her third time coming and she brought along her granddaughter who is just as cute as can be. She had fun sticking stickers all over us during sacrament.
I was privileged to give a talk in church yesterday. I guess someone called and canceled so Brother Birk (2nd counselor in Bishopric) called me Saturday morning. I spoke on our ward’s theme for this year which is 2 Nephi 25:26. I was asked to talk about how this scripture can help motive us to change and grow closer to our Father in Heaven. Hopefully it went well. I don't know. I enjoyed speaking, probably because I enjoy teaching.
Excited news! We received a text last night from our Zl's notifying us that we were the number one baptizing zone in the mission. That was awesome to hear because before we weren't doing so great. Currently we have two investigators with baptismal dates and three with potential dates.
This morning I was reading in Mormon 7. It is one of my favorite chapters. I love how it talks about how we must have hope in order to have faith, and to have hope we must first be meek and lowly in heart. I went through this chapter and circled the word hope every time it was mentioned. It says it quit a bit. But I think my favorite verse in this chapter is verse 31. This verse is what I have been called to do. I have been called and set apart to find those who are ready and prepared for the gospel. I love this work!
Sister salmon
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Monday, January 23, 2012
Jan 23, 2012
Sorry it has taken me so lone to fill you all in. It’s been a crazy week; it seems I can never get a head of things. Last week was Mlk day so the Library in Champaign was closed, and then I had to be in St. Louis for Leadership training, so that’s where I was all day Tuesday and Wednesday. Training was amazing! I learned so many things about how to become a better teacher and listener. During the training, our Mission president reminded us of when Elder Malm came and spoke to us. I guess before Elder Malm left President Clark asked what we could do to better consecrate ourselves to the work. Elder Malm replied back that if we went back to the basics of Missionary work and studied more intently from our PMG (Preach my Gospels) the Lord would bless us in our missionary efforts. As a mission, we have recommitted ourselves to become PMG missionaries. But he didn’t stop there. Our Zl’s brought up the idea in ZLC that we should also have our members become PMG members. So now we are trying to work with our members, getting them PMG and having them study from its pages as well. PMG is such an amazing tool. One of the ways we are trying to have members implement PMG into their homes is through FHE. PMG has lesson plans, activities, and scriptures already put together for you…I remember when PMG first came out. Santa was on top of things because I remember that all of us received one in our stockings that first year. I have learned so much from reading and studying from PMG. Sometimes I get frustrated with myself because I wish I could say things as eloquently as they are written in Preach. I know that as I have followed the counsel from Elder Malm/President Clark that I have been blessed in my studies and with working with my investigators. The second day of leadership training was just as good, and also humbling. During the latter part of the day I was called up to participate in a role play. I’ll be honest; I strongly dislike role plays, particularly in front of large groups of missionaries. But I was called up, I didn’t sufficiently humble myself. I let myself get cocky and demonstrated what not to do. It wasn’t horrible, but if I had been listening more intently to the spirit it would have gone a lot smoother. That was a huge learning point for me. We need to be humble teachers.
ADDED BECAUSE IT WAS CRAZY AND BECAUSE I CAN :) I wanted to add that on Monday for P-day I took my companion to get her ears pierced for the first time. And then somehow during the night one of her earrings fell out and her hole closed up. She had me re pierce her ear. It was the weirdest craziest thing ever.
Wednesday night was a riot. I forgot to mention that we carpooled down in the Zl’s minivan; there were six of us. Two sets of elder and then me and another sister, whom we picked up in Centralia. We dropped off my companion there and did a switch because my companion wasn’t going to the leadership training. Anyway, on the way home Wednesday night after dinner we set out and after 30 miles of driving we realized we were on the wrong highway. So we had to back track to get on the right highway and we found ourselves back in St. Louis. It took us six hours to get home when it should’ve only taken maybe 4hrs. So we didn’t get home until 1:30am. But the ride was really fun; we need to remember, when you are in the car with people for longer than 2hrs you kind of take your friendship to a whole new level.
Lisa our most progressing investigator is doing amazing. She came to church yesterday and had amazing time. The Elders who are at church the previous hour started talking to her and pretty much told her that she seemed ready to be baptized and to pray about a date. This took her by surprise, mostly because she had been thinking about it. We’ve talked to her about it as well but I think she needed someone else to bring it up. It’s so great to see how the gospel can completely change people’s lives. When we went to go pick her up that morning she didn’t want to come, and told us she had thought up all these excuses to not come. But the lord new she needed to come and helped us overcome all her excuses. She’s becoming a different person. I just love her so much.
I have such a strong testimony of fasting, prayer and obedience. The Lord has blessed us so much this last week because of our desires to re consecrate ourselves to Him. I know that when we feast from the scriptures every day, the lord blesses us in our understanding of the scriptures. And our desires to follow him increases. I’m reminded of Ephesians 6 which talks about the armour of God. I know that as we do the things we know to be right the lord does bless us.
love sister salmon
ADDED BECAUSE IT WAS CRAZY AND BECAUSE I CAN :) I wanted to add that on Monday for P-day I took my companion to get her ears pierced for the first time. And then somehow during the night one of her earrings fell out and her hole closed up. She had me re pierce her ear. It was the weirdest craziest thing ever.
Wednesday night was a riot. I forgot to mention that we carpooled down in the Zl’s minivan; there were six of us. Two sets of elder and then me and another sister, whom we picked up in Centralia. We dropped off my companion there and did a switch because my companion wasn’t going to the leadership training. Anyway, on the way home Wednesday night after dinner we set out and after 30 miles of driving we realized we were on the wrong highway. So we had to back track to get on the right highway and we found ourselves back in St. Louis. It took us six hours to get home when it should’ve only taken maybe 4hrs. So we didn’t get home until 1:30am. But the ride was really fun; we need to remember, when you are in the car with people for longer than 2hrs you kind of take your friendship to a whole new level.
Lisa our most progressing investigator is doing amazing. She came to church yesterday and had amazing time. The Elders who are at church the previous hour started talking to her and pretty much told her that she seemed ready to be baptized and to pray about a date. This took her by surprise, mostly because she had been thinking about it. We’ve talked to her about it as well but I think she needed someone else to bring it up. It’s so great to see how the gospel can completely change people’s lives. When we went to go pick her up that morning she didn’t want to come, and told us she had thought up all these excuses to not come. But the lord new she needed to come and helped us overcome all her excuses. She’s becoming a different person. I just love her so much.
I have such a strong testimony of fasting, prayer and obedience. The Lord has blessed us so much this last week because of our desires to re consecrate ourselves to Him. I know that when we feast from the scriptures every day, the lord blesses us in our understanding of the scriptures. And our desires to follow him increases. I’m reminded of Ephesians 6 which talks about the armour of God. I know that as we do the things we know to be right the lord does bless us.
love sister salmon
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
January 9, 2012
Hey Mother, Family and Friends!
This week we had an amazing miracle. Cleo, our most progressing investigator has been smoke free for the last Five days. We taught the smoke free program the church has and she's been doing amazing. It is a very powerful testimony of our Savior’s atonement and how He can help us change. And then she told us this last week when we were visiting that after this next Friday (daughter's birthday party) she is going to stop drinking too! We had talked about the word of wisdom a little bit when we did the stop smoking program but she pretty much made this decision by her self. It’s so amazing to see people come unto Christ. It’s almost like she's a different person now. We will be seeing her hopefully tomorrow, and we're hoping to set a baptismal date with her. We've talked about it before; we asked her to pray to know if this is Christ’s Church and if she should be baptized. Tomorrow will be a big day for us.
We also had a really good lesson with Roland on Saturday. We taught the Plan of Salvation with Brother Knowlton our WML and it went really well. I'd almost say our best lesson with Roland. I use to be so hesitant to invite members to come to our lessons, just because then I felt they were watching how I taught. Now I know that was just selfish. Having member at lessons makes the spirit so much stronger. Plus, Roland was able to relate easier to what Bro. Knowlton was saying (Must be a guy thing). So on Sunday, when we had a ward missionary correlation meeting we brought up the importance of having members at lessons. Preferable all! I think we're going to start assigning couples or individuals a day and a block of time. Asking for volunteers just isn't working. We'll start with just one day, but we might, depending on how successful it is branch out.
We also have a new family that we hope to pick up this week. David is from Mexico and was raised in the Catholic Church and his wife is Navajo and doesn't have much of a religious background. Apparently her father (who we think is a member or at least is a less active) referred them to the missionaries. We had an okay lesson with them last week. I'm having a hard time getting my companion to talk; which is a little frustrating but we're working through this. So I was doing a lot of the talking in our companionship.
Transfer calls were Saturday night and our district is staying the same again. We've been together for three transfers now, going on four. There are a few changes in leader positions but other than that we're all here. I was given a new responsibility. I have been called to be the exchange sister in Illinois. It is comparable to what the dl's do when they travel around and go on splits with the elders in the district. This means that Sister Luker and I will now get an opportunity to travel to the other two sister companionship's and go on splits. I’m actually really excited about this, and this also means that I'll be able to attend the leadership training next week in St, Louis. I was a little shocked at this calling, but I am really excited. It gives me an opportunity to learn from the other sisters.
Love you all! Thank you for your prayers and support. It makes a world of difference.
Sister Salmon
This week we had an amazing miracle. Cleo, our most progressing investigator has been smoke free for the last Five days. We taught the smoke free program the church has and she's been doing amazing. It is a very powerful testimony of our Savior’s atonement and how He can help us change. And then she told us this last week when we were visiting that after this next Friday (daughter's birthday party) she is going to stop drinking too! We had talked about the word of wisdom a little bit when we did the stop smoking program but she pretty much made this decision by her self. It’s so amazing to see people come unto Christ. It’s almost like she's a different person now. We will be seeing her hopefully tomorrow, and we're hoping to set a baptismal date with her. We've talked about it before; we asked her to pray to know if this is Christ’s Church and if she should be baptized. Tomorrow will be a big day for us.
We also had a really good lesson with Roland on Saturday. We taught the Plan of Salvation with Brother Knowlton our WML and it went really well. I'd almost say our best lesson with Roland. I use to be so hesitant to invite members to come to our lessons, just because then I felt they were watching how I taught. Now I know that was just selfish. Having member at lessons makes the spirit so much stronger. Plus, Roland was able to relate easier to what Bro. Knowlton was saying (Must be a guy thing). So on Sunday, when we had a ward missionary correlation meeting we brought up the importance of having members at lessons. Preferable all! I think we're going to start assigning couples or individuals a day and a block of time. Asking for volunteers just isn't working. We'll start with just one day, but we might, depending on how successful it is branch out.
We also have a new family that we hope to pick up this week. David is from Mexico and was raised in the Catholic Church and his wife is Navajo and doesn't have much of a religious background. Apparently her father (who we think is a member or at least is a less active) referred them to the missionaries. We had an okay lesson with them last week. I'm having a hard time getting my companion to talk; which is a little frustrating but we're working through this. So I was doing a lot of the talking in our companionship.
Transfer calls were Saturday night and our district is staying the same again. We've been together for three transfers now, going on four. There are a few changes in leader positions but other than that we're all here. I was given a new responsibility. I have been called to be the exchange sister in Illinois. It is comparable to what the dl's do when they travel around and go on splits with the elders in the district. This means that Sister Luker and I will now get an opportunity to travel to the other two sister companionship's and go on splits. I’m actually really excited about this, and this also means that I'll be able to attend the leadership training next week in St, Louis. I was a little shocked at this calling, but I am really excited. It gives me an opportunity to learn from the other sisters.
Love you all! Thank you for your prayers and support. It makes a world of difference.
Sister Salmon
Jan 2, 2012
HAPPY NEW YEARS!!!!!!This week the exchange sisters came into town from Pittsfield. We had a awesome time together, both companionship's worked really hard. Thursday night after dinner sister Brink and I made an extra stop home after our dinner appointment. We stopped by Justa's apartment, she was the one sister shutt and I stumbled upon right after she found out her daughter in-law had committed suicide. We'd been trying to get a hold of her for a while, and with it being the Holiday break, we weren't having much luck. But this time she was home. We had a really good visit with her and shared a message of comfort with her. I guess the weekend was another bad weekend. We have an appointment with her tonight, and we're really looking forward to that. Friday we switched companions again. So this time i was with sister Henke. That morning we went to go visit sister Nicole Simmons. She wouldn't pick up our phone calls so we decided to do a stop by. The only problem is she lives in a gated community. Well that didn't stop us; we started walking around and lucked out when the mail truck was passing through the gate. We just walked on through. (Smile and wave boys, smile and wave!) I guess I should say I started walking on through; sister Henke was a little hesitant at first. We did meet up with Sister Simmons and are expected to see her some time this week.
Saturday, New Years Eve day; the Urbana elders had an investigator who was baptized and we had two of our investigators there. I think they both really enjoyed it. Afterward we did a church tour and then taught the restoration. Baby steps. They're still getting the hang of things. Everything went really well. Cleo, one of investigators who attended the baptism also came to church on Sunday. I'm sure she was really confused at first.
We were asked to stop proselyting at 3pm Saturday night, and were asked to deep clean our apartments. Which we did, i didn't think it would take that long but it sure did. I don't mind cleaning, especially when you get to wear jeans. :) We spent New Years Eve with the Mcconkies eating finger food (cheese, crackers, shrimp, chips and dip, candies etc.) and playing games (Rummikub and Phase Ten). It was a lot of fun, but was the quietest New Years I've ever experienced.
Sunday Cleo came to church and stayed for the entire block. She doesn't have a car so I guess you could say we shanghaied (?) her. But I think she enjoyed it just the same. She kept making remarks how it’s the same as her church yet different. "People here are so much nicer". We are meeting with her on Wednesday, we told her about a stop smoking program the church has so she's excited to start. New years day was then spent at the Reger’s home. We had “make your own sandwiches and custard”, which was really good. People out here sure do love their custard.
Today is FREEZING! Thank goodness I decided to wear two pairs of tights. It started snowing mid morning and has been coming down periodically through out the day.
We had zone p-day today, and for p-day we went to an Illinois woman's' Basketball game. It was fun to watch.... and to be watched. People just stared at us when we first walked in. You'd think they'd never seen people before..... The game was good but really slow. I prefer to men play ball.
And that's a week in the life of sister salmon. Until next week.
love yawl! sister salmon
Saturday, New Years Eve day; the Urbana elders had an investigator who was baptized and we had two of our investigators there. I think they both really enjoyed it. Afterward we did a church tour and then taught the restoration. Baby steps. They're still getting the hang of things. Everything went really well. Cleo, one of investigators who attended the baptism also came to church on Sunday. I'm sure she was really confused at first.
We were asked to stop proselyting at 3pm Saturday night, and were asked to deep clean our apartments. Which we did, i didn't think it would take that long but it sure did. I don't mind cleaning, especially when you get to wear jeans. :) We spent New Years Eve with the Mcconkies eating finger food (cheese, crackers, shrimp, chips and dip, candies etc.) and playing games (Rummikub and Phase Ten). It was a lot of fun, but was the quietest New Years I've ever experienced.
Sunday Cleo came to church and stayed for the entire block. She doesn't have a car so I guess you could say we shanghaied (?) her. But I think she enjoyed it just the same. She kept making remarks how it’s the same as her church yet different. "People here are so much nicer". We are meeting with her on Wednesday, we told her about a stop smoking program the church has so she's excited to start. New years day was then spent at the Reger’s home. We had “make your own sandwiches and custard”, which was really good. People out here sure do love their custard.
Today is FREEZING! Thank goodness I decided to wear two pairs of tights. It started snowing mid morning and has been coming down periodically through out the day.
We had zone p-day today, and for p-day we went to an Illinois woman's' Basketball game. It was fun to watch.... and to be watched. People just stared at us when we first walked in. You'd think they'd never seen people before..... The game was good but really slow. I prefer to men play ball.
And that's a week in the life of sister salmon. Until next week.
love yawl! sister salmon
Monday, January 2, 2012
December 27th, 2011
Dear Family
I loved seeing and talking to everyone this last week. That was my favorite part of Christmas for sure!
This last week was a really busy one. Everyday was chalk full with appointments, and amazingly nobody canceled on us. We found a new investigator. We met with her a couple times throughout the week. During our first visit I was a little concerned because she seemed disinterested. But as we continued to talk and read from the scriptures her whole countenance changed. She was more engaged and she became the one who was asking questions. We invited her to church and she said that she would come. We were a little disappointed when she didn't come. :( We had asked a member in our ward to go pick her up. Part of me wonders if she didn't come because we weren't there. But we're going to see her this afternoon and hopefully we can figure some things out.
With it being Christmas time we were able to take part in some secret Santa’s. Skirts make it very interesting when it came to ding dong ditching. We had tried to leave some gifts at one of our investigators houses, but in the process of our escape my companion's shoe went flying off her foot. This scuddled our plan of a quick escape and when we looked back our investigator was at his door watching us. Oh well, we tried.
Christmas eve was spent at various members houses. We ate lots of food, sung carols, read Christmas stories and participated in white elephant gift exchanges. It was a very enjoyable evening. I'm always interested in other people’s traditions.
Yesterday was kind of an off day for me. We are really struggling with doing street lessons. And it’s even harder on Mondays because it’s P-day. The frustrating thing is I had two opportunities to share the gospel and have a good street lesson. And it wasn't until afterward that I realized I my missed opportunity. Sometimes I just forget. So I was (nicely) beating myself up about that. But I didn't let myself get too discouraged though. It’s when we fall that we produce the most growth. I know that with time and practice and help from my Father in Heaven that I can make this weakness a strength.
This morning I was pleasantly surprised to wake up to a blanket of snow. There was a good two inches on the ground when we went out to go running. I have learned that yes it is fun to run in the snow, but it is also lot harder to run in. It’s almost as bad as running in sand. Still, I enjoyed it.
I love you all. Thank you for your prayers, your love and support.
Sister Salmon
*Spencer I found Tim Tams. You were right, they were at target. We'll be doing those at dm this week.
Dear Family
I loved seeing and talking to everyone this last week. That was my favorite part of Christmas for sure!
This last week was a really busy one. Everyday was chalk full with appointments, and amazingly nobody canceled on us. We found a new investigator. We met with her a couple times throughout the week. During our first visit I was a little concerned because she seemed disinterested. But as we continued to talk and read from the scriptures her whole countenance changed. She was more engaged and she became the one who was asking questions. We invited her to church and she said that she would come. We were a little disappointed when she didn't come. :( We had asked a member in our ward to go pick her up. Part of me wonders if she didn't come because we weren't there. But we're going to see her this afternoon and hopefully we can figure some things out.
With it being Christmas time we were able to take part in some secret Santa’s. Skirts make it very interesting when it came to ding dong ditching. We had tried to leave some gifts at one of our investigators houses, but in the process of our escape my companion's shoe went flying off her foot. This scuddled our plan of a quick escape and when we looked back our investigator was at his door watching us. Oh well, we tried.
Christmas eve was spent at various members houses. We ate lots of food, sung carols, read Christmas stories and participated in white elephant gift exchanges. It was a very enjoyable evening. I'm always interested in other people’s traditions.
Yesterday was kind of an off day for me. We are really struggling with doing street lessons. And it’s even harder on Mondays because it’s P-day. The frustrating thing is I had two opportunities to share the gospel and have a good street lesson. And it wasn't until afterward that I realized I my missed opportunity. Sometimes I just forget. So I was (nicely) beating myself up about that. But I didn't let myself get too discouraged though. It’s when we fall that we produce the most growth. I know that with time and practice and help from my Father in Heaven that I can make this weakness a strength.
This morning I was pleasantly surprised to wake up to a blanket of snow. There was a good two inches on the ground when we went out to go running. I have learned that yes it is fun to run in the snow, but it is also lot harder to run in. It’s almost as bad as running in sand. Still, I enjoyed it.
I love you all. Thank you for your prayers, your love and support.
Sister Salmon
*Spencer I found Tim Tams. You were right, they were at target. We'll be doing those at dm this week.
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