broken bone

Kitt broke her leg just over two weeks ago.  She was jumping on the trampoline with an older cousin.  Typical.  When I brought her into urgent care it was horrible. Due to being pregnant I was unable to be with her during her x-ray.  She FREAKED out, to say the least.  It took 3 people to pin her down.  Due to her experience in the x-ray room she was super wound up.  I held her hand and it still took 4 others to keep her still enough to wrap the splint.  They kept mentioning how strong she was.  They kept telling me to sing her songs.  At one point I did sing "the farmer and the del" but my singing voice is not the most soothing.  So I told stories instead.  That was also un-helpful.  After a half hour of crying she was just plain mad.  She was yelling things like "don't touch me ever again" and "get away from me".  I told her they were just putting on a band-aid and she glares right at me and says "I don't want a band-aid".  It was sad.

The 4 days in a splint were only ever so slightly better.  She couldn't put weight on it, leaving her without any independence.  I couldn't unload the dishwasher without being interrupted 8+ times (and I am not a slow un-loader).  She would ask for something she didn't really need and then add on in a sad little voice "I can't walk".  I had to do whatever she wanted.  At one point she insisted she wanted to ride her trike.  She was carried out on set on her trike.  She concentrated and tried and tried to ride that bike, then looks up and says "I can't do it".  

Now I have never broken a bone so I was imagining the entire healing process to be like this.  Not so.  We went in for her appointment to put on her cast.  I brought my mother with me (due to the horribleness of the last visit).  This one went WAY better.  My mom told stories (with props) and entertained the whole time.  She also carried her which kept me from the stomach cramps of the previous 4 days.  Kitt picked out a pink cast and was thrilled when the doctor offered to put sparkles on it.  Now she can put pressure on her leg and it doesn't slow her down a bit.  She is so much a happier.  A happy Kitt = a happy mom.  

Monday Feb 25, 2013 LAST MISSION EMAIL

February 25, 2013

Hello Dear family.

Where has the time gone? I cannot believe that this is my final letter home as a missionary. These last couple of weeks my companions and i have been working really hard. I want the coming in sisters to work to do when they arrive. We have been greatly blessed in finding. We found three new investigators this last week. One we found as we were apartment shopping.

Last week sister Keller the housing director called and asked if we could find an apartment for the new missionaries up in Highland. They are splitting our area which is super exciting. It is really HUGE!!! We went up to Highland Thursday, the day we got a tone of snow. Thankfully we went up with our ZL's. They had a truck and we had no problem getting from place to place. It was on Thursday that we found Ashley. She was living in an apartment complex we checked out. We wanted to see what the inside looked like so we did a simple door approach. She was super sweet. Her and her boyfriend had just moved into that apartment themselves. She shared how they are expecting a baby; we shared a portion of the Plan of Salvation with her and how the gospel blesses Families. As I was able to testify, i could feel the Love that our Heavenly Father has her. I testified to here of that love. It was such a powerful moment. We are going to be teaching her tomorrow, i am really excited to see her.

Sunday after church we had a potential that sister Duncan and i had found a couple of weeks ago that we wanted to follow up on. He lives on the way home from church which made it convenient. His name is Jordan. We found him tracting. He plays basketball on the school team and shared how there are some Mormons on the team. We were blessed with finding him at home. We shared with him the first lesson and more about the importance of the book or mormon. The spirit was very strong throughout the lesson. Jordan gave the closing prayer, and it was one the most sincere prayers i have heard. I felt like i was listening to Lamoni's Father in the Alma when he prayed to know if there was a god. As he prayed i could feel his sincerity. It was reconfirmed to me the importance of our message and how many people are kept from the truth because they simply don't know where to find it.

How grateful i am to know the great plan of redemption, and especially to share it with those around me. I am truly blessed to know the things i know. The Gospel is everyone. It isn't meant to be a secret. The only thing required is for us to act; to grow in faith, to change and repent, to love our neighbor. And in return God promises us Salvation, Eternal exaltation. To be with those we love for forever. How merciful is the plan of our God. Last night we had one last stop before coming in. It was with a less active member the R.S president had asked us to contact because they had no information on the family. We visited with the father who had grown up in the church had served in many ward callings and yet didn't have the desire to come back. As i listened could feel and see how important this man was to our heavenly father. It made me think of the conference talk titled "You are not forgotten". God loves all his children, and wants more than anything for us to feel his love.

That i think has been the biggest thing i have learned on my mission. Love truly is the reason behind everything. That love is evident in everything we have. Through our families, through the gospel, our rights and freedoms, the beautiful earth we live on.....I could go on and on. God lives. I know this. I love you all!

sister salmon

 

Tuesday February 19, 2013

Tuesday February 19, 2013

MOM, DAD and family,

Time to kill the fatted Calf, I'm game for that idea. I'm glad you received my Anniversary/ Valentine ’s Day present. And as far as your gift, you're just going to wait until the 28th of February.

Mom i received my fish tales and my other package as well. Thank you so much, it came just in time.

On Monday night we received a call from our Zone leaders notifying us that we were getting a new companion. Sister Gordon is from Gilbert Arizona, and  had been serving as a temple square missionary for the last 9 months. I'm still trying to figure out how that works, but she'll be here for 3 months and then will be returning back in May. She's a real go getter, super excited to do the work. Which is great because it helps me stay focused. We went and picked her up last Wednesday at the airport with President Clark and one the office elders. After a quick lunch and interview with sister Gordon we came back to Glen Carbon and dived back into the work. With there being three of us we're trying to utilize the extra person by doing splits. We have two young girls that come out with us to teach. Arena has her call will be leaving for Brazil early April, and Michaela is still in young woman's but is super excited about serving a mission. It’s great that they come out with us because then we can get twice as much work done in an hour. Arena actually came out tracting with us last week. We went tracting around her home in Collinsville and found a new investigator and a couple potentials we will be following up on today. There are definitely pros and cons to being in a tri, but at the moment everything is working out well and we are being blessed in finding and teaching.

Tuesday we were able to attend a session in the temple, and because it is close to the end of the transfer many missionaries were there. I love the time i am able to spend in the temple. The spirit is very strong there. When we prepare ourselves to enter God's holy house we are blessed with being able to feel his spirit and receive inspiration. I love going to temple because of the spirit that is felt. I am also always blessed with seeing members that i have come to love from passed areas. I love these little reunions that let me check up on families and individuals that i had an opportunity to serve. In fact when we went on Tuesday i ran into a member in the distribution center from st. Charles and found out that he and his family are also descendants from Reynolds Cahoon. I gave him our home phone number so i think her should be calling if he hasn't already. And then because we had already attended the temple by the time sister Gordon arrived, President Clark gave us special permission to go back. We were able to have a double dose this week. Once again i saw many people I know and love. I wonder if that is what Heaven will be like. Seeing loved ones, giving hugs and getting caught up on old news. What a joyful experience to endure to.

Thursday night we went and had a lesson with a new investigator. Her name is Edna Willis. We had a great lesson reading and discussing Alma 32. She said that she believes the book is true, and we extended a soft baptismal invite. She's already been baptized, we know that she doesn't understand authority just yet. It's awesome to see how she can recognize the spirit of the book as she reads. Yesterday in companion sturdy we were reading in PMG page 93 about recognizing the Holy Ghost. Elder M. Russel Ballard gave a great quote about the power of the spirit in conversion, he said "True conversion comes through the power of the spirit. When the Spirit touches the heart, hearts are changed. When individuals...feel the Spirit working with them, or when they see the evidence of the Lord's love and mercy in their lives, they are edified and strengthened spiritually and their faith in Him increases. These experiences with the Spirit follow naturally when a person is willing to experiment upon the word. This is how we come to feel the gospel is true" ("Now Is the Time," Ensign, Nov. 2000, 75). Conversion can only occur when the individual is seeking after it just as Elder Ballard has previously stated. The Book of Mormon is one of the most powerful tools we can use to help individuals gain that desire to change and learn more. I hope that Edna will feel that the gospel is true, for it is the only thing that can bring her ultimate Happiness.

Yesterday our zone went down to the city museum. I think we all came away with bumps and bruises. I'll show you pictures when i see you.

This morning in personal study i was reading in James 1:8 which says "a double minded man is unstable in all his ways". I was thinking about that statement by James and how we need to follow that counsel. We can't be double minded, we can't have double standards. God has set the Standard for living. "He is the way, the truth and the life."

I know that the gospel is true, the book of Mormon truly testifies of Christ. I know the Atonement is real and that it works if we allow it. I love my Savior! I LOVE YOU ALL!!!

LOVE Sister Salmon

February 11, 2013

Mom, Dad and Family

That's crazy that you just read that in your studies. I made it a goal to finish the NT before i end my mission so i have been reading it very feverishly. I read that same chapter this last week as well. Whenever i read it i always think of Spencer reciting it in a jingle. That was how he memorized it. Thank you for sending off those items i requested. I am so excited for mail.

We had zone conference this last week which is always spirit filled. I couldn't believe that it was going to be my last. I think because of where i am at in my mission, everything has become that much more important and sacred. The theme for our Zone conf. was on attitude. We have the chose to what attitude we will have out here on the mission. The work goes so much better when we have an attitude of gratitude and joy. There is no time to waste on discouragement and pity. Anna and Eric are no longer being baptized on t he 23rd. This was sad to hear, but at the same time it just means that they are not ready. Anna went to say good bye to her old pastor and to cut ties and was bombarded by her old pastors wife and 8 other members of the congregation. Now she's super confused and has gone back to her old church. She has had so many sacred experiences in her life. It was an example to me of how important it is to become rooted in the Gospel, and to remember those spiritual experiences. Satan does desire to have us; when we grow lax in our obedience and conviction to follow God we allow ourselves to become weak. I hope and pray that that her heart will softened and she can remember the spirit that she felt as she came to church and read from her scriptures.

On a happier note, we had our exchange sisters come into town after Zone confer. They stayed Tuesday night through Thursday day. At district meeting on Thursday Lynn who makes us lunch after each DM had tea party themed meal. We had little sandwiches, salad and homemade apple pie.

President Clark made a promise to us in the beginning of the mission that if we devote more attention to finding and we can be blessed in finding those two new investigators each week. And when we do that we will be blessed in getting a baptism each transfer. We've been placing more emphasis on finding this week. God really blessed us and we found three. One sister Fallentine (exchange sister) and I found together. it was the last door before we were going to meet back up and they were going to leave. I knocked and a middle aged woman answered the door. Edna Willis is a pastor for a non-denomination church in East St. Louis. We both testify of the book of Mormon and shared how the book of Mormon and bible are meant to be used together as one. I quoted the scripture in Ezekiel and the two sticks. She was very interested in reading more and said that she's always interested in learning more about God's word. We are going to go see her on the 14th. I am really excited to see her.

Saturday night we received permission to help out the O'Fallen elders teach one of their investigators. Corisa is 8yrs. old and preparing to be baptized on the 27th. She's super quiet and the elders wanted help making her feel more comfortable in the lesson. She's the cutest little thing. She hardly spoke but according to the elders that was the most she had spoken in their lessons. I loved being able to meet her and her family. Then, that night before we went home sister Kremer who was our ride swung by the church to talk to her husband. The Centerville Elders were there playing BB with a couple member boys and a ton of potential investigators. I tried to mingle with them, but mostly they were interested in the game. This was totally fine. But at the end on our way our, sister Kremer had a bucket full of dodge balls in her trunk and we started dodge ball fight in the church parking lot. It started out as sisters verse elders (6 elders) and then gradually we won some elders over to our side. Such a fun night! Missions are meant to be fun. We work hard, and then we play hard. The gospel is amazing; it is the only thing that brings true lasting happiness. I am so grateful to my Heavenly Father for his live and mercy to us his children.

Love sister salmon

February 2013

Sister Salmon is coming home!!!

February 28, 2013

February 4, 2013

Family and Friends who read these letters:

 ("get out your hats and raincoats kids, we're having rain for twice a day, for two years") Can anyone name this movie quote?

 

So this week was an adventure. We had a tornado watch start at 4pm on Tuesday and that brought tons of water resulting in a water main breaking somewhere in Glen Carbon. Running from the house we were at to our car resulted in two very very wet sister missionaries. Due to the water main break some residents had been out of water for a good day and 1/2. We thankfully had water the whole time; however our pressure was low, so we had to fill up buckets to flush the toilet. But the worst part was our water was contaminated because the flood water had seeped into the water main. We had a Boil Order for all of last week and today it was finally lifted. I haven't dared try drinking any water yet. Thankfully we have a Britta, but I'm sure the water is going to taste a lot like Chlorine. I don't know about you, but that is not my flavor of choice.

Monday night we had an appointment with Alexis, sadly she was busy getting caught up with homework because she had been sick all last week. However we were supposed to be there, because that gave us an opportunity to speak wither her mother Tina and share a brief Plan of Salvation with her. I think i told you how she had a son who was killed in East St. Louis about a year ago. She had some really sincere questions about what happens after this life. We were supposed to meet up with her on Friday, but when we arrived she was out paying bills and running errands. Again this turned out to be the will of God because we were able to meet up with Alexis. She at first seemed frazzled and not too inclined on letting us in. We were able to sit down and noticed quickly she had a lot on her mind. We went into her kitchen to read the scriptures away from the noise created by her son and three younger siblings. That didn't work too well so as sister Duncan and Alexis read and discussed scripture while I distracted the kids. I was in the joining room so we were still within sight and sound of each other. After the lesson Alexis's whole countenance had changed. She was even laughing. That is the power of the Book of Mormon in action. The Book of Mormon is true, when we make it a priority to read passages in our lessons and particularly to have our investigators read from it, the spirit is in more abundance.

We had an amazing Sacrament service yesterday. The theme that everyone stuck with was on missionary work. I'm praying that this is the beginning of something great! On Saturday we took a 16yr old young woman to an appointment with us. Her mother shared her testimony about the experience and how excited her daughter is to serve a mission. That was the start of our meeting and it just continued from there. As a missionary you get so excited when other individuals are able to participate in missionary work. The spirit you feel when you are able to declare truth, nothing can match that feeling. Later that night sister Duncan and i were out tracting on our way to visit a PM/LA family when we were stopped by an older women. She pulled up beside us asking if we were missionaries from the Glen Carbon Ward. We answered in the affirmative. She then asked us if we were sister Salmon and sister Duncan, again "YES". She told us that she was a member and was currently serving in the Centerville branch but had brought her Sister (NM) to the Edwardsville ward that morning. Her sister lives in our ward boundaries so the elders gave this women our names and number so she could call us. She was so excited to see us, she called her sister right then and there to tell her she found us walking the streets of Granite city. She welcomed us into her friend’s home and we had a good talk about her sister. Apparently her sister had met with missionaries before and had almost been baptized. But she let smoking get in her way. That night i was was thankful to have been tracting on Adams street in Granite city. That was where we needed to be. The Lord works in mysterious ways, and will lead us where we should go. And sometimes we don't even know we are being led.

Quick note: I was reading in 1 Nephi 3 when Nephi and his brothers are sent back to retrieve the plates from Laban. As I read, i sat pondering why it would take them three times to accomplish the task at hand. Nephi had exercised his faith in verse 7 by telling his brothers that they should have faith, that the Lord would provide a way. But it wasn't until Nephi and Sam had been beaten, that they were able to accomplish the thing which the Lord had commanded them. They didn't ask the Lord from the beginning what they should do. The first time the cast-lots, the second time they went to their worldly possessions, and then the third time Nephi says he went forth not knowing beforehand what he would do. When we put our trust in God and include him in our decision making, like Nephi we too can accomplish whatever the Lord asks. But it can only be done with the Lord.

I love you all

Sister Salmon

 

January 27th, 2013

Thinking back to the past week. Wednesday night we had a really great lesson with Anna. She and her son are preparing to be baptized on February 23rd. We started out reading and discussion 1 Nephi 17 talking about trials and how the Lord will give us the strength to overcome trials. We then shared with her the movie the restoration. We wanted to review the story of the Prophet Joseph Smith and draw out any questions or concerns she might have about him. It was special to see her get a little teary eyed during the part when Christ and Heavenly Father come and are talking with Joseph. After the movie ended she shared how she did have some questions but the movie cleared them all up. She said she knows that Joseph Smith was a prophet. We had a R.S Activity the next day at the church. The theme was based upon Daughters of my Kingdom, and the talk given in the last conference "First Observe, then Serve". It was a great turn out and she really enjoyed herself. We were supposed to meet with them after church on Sunday but they didn't show up. They are living with their fellow shipper and their fellow shipper wasn't at church either. We're thinking that the weather deterred them. Sunday morning we woke up to freezing rain and the roads were pretty slick. Our Zl's texted that morning notifying us that all cars were grounded until further notice and to try and get a ride to church. If we couldn't find a ride to drive very carefully. Having our car grounded for the first part of the day actually was a blessing because we were able to have members drive us which saved us on miles. And with it being close to the end of the month miles are a little tight.

Violet was in the hospital up at Granite City this last week. She was having some difficulties with her heart. At first the tests looked good but then something came up and she had a stint put in Thursday morning. She's doing much better now. She's home and we were able to go and visit her. We didn't want to take too much time, just wanted to drop off a get well card and see how she was. Even though she's been faced with many trials this week she was in the best of moods. Tired of course but still had a smile on her face and was concerned for everyone else but herself. She is so selfless.

We also went and visited with John and Eli Colon this week. We watched the Testaments movie with them. Actually that whole day was a miracle. We had told them prior that we had wanted to watch this movie with them. I assumed that we just had the movie, but we didn't. I made a phone call to our WMLs' wife, who quickly notified me that they didn't own the movie but to try the church library. Thankfully they had a copy. The movie brought the spirit and also helped them understand a bit more about the history of the Book of Mormon. I know that the Testaments isn't a true story, the family is fictitious but it is based on actual events and experiences that would have happened during that time period. At the end of the movie Eli said he was "speechless" and John said he was "teary". These boys are so close, but something is missing. Hopefully through prayer and scripture study the Lord can help sis. Duncan and i know what more we can do to help them.

We had two spirit lead finding experiences this last week. The first happened in Granite City. We had been out for a good two hours tracting with no solid potentials. We only had a few houses left on the block before we were going to start walking back to the car. We knocked on what became our last door and met Elisa. She had grown up Catholic had married a man who already 4 children from a previous marriage. The kids had grown up going to a Baptist church, though i don't think they are very active in that church anymore, and he is very active in the Masons. It was a very cold night and she welcomed us into the front part of their house. We had a really great lesson right there testifying of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon and how we both knew it would bless her Life. I shared with her Moroni's promise in chapter 10 and committed her to pray and read. We have an appointment with her this Thursday. So hopefully all goes well. The second finding experience happened last night right before dinner. Sister Duncan and i were being picked up at 5:30pm for dinner so we decided to stay close. We were running out of time and i really wanted to place a Book of Mormon. We had picked a road close to where we lived that only had a couple of house on it. We went to our first house, no one was there. Sis. Duncan suggested another house just off on the next street but i suggested we stay on the one street so that we don't get confused. We went to our second house. No one was home. Strike two. We started down heading to the next house on the block when i felt that we should at least try the house sis. Duncan had previously suggested. We knocked and a young man answers the door. His name is Jordan. He is a junior in High school and said that he knows a kid who's Mormon and had always been interested in what they believed in. Sister Duncan shared with him Moroni 10 as well and we are going back to see him this week. I am so thankful for the promptings of the spirit. At the time leading up to that house where Jordan lives, i didn't think too much about the feeling. But walking back from that house I know that the Lord guided us to that street so that we could meet and talk with Jordan. The Holy Ghost speaks to us in a still small voice and sometimes we won't recognize it at first. From this experience i was reminded to not question a prompting. Don't think twice if it comes from the lord or if it was your own thoughts. The Holy Ghost speaks in a voice that we recognize and that voice is sometimes the one in our own head.

I wish everyone well.
love Sister Salmon

January 21, 2013

Hey mamma, and family

This week was full of tender mercies. We had a great dinner/lesson with a LA family on Monday night. The wife who is very active called us the next day to thank us for everything and asked if we'd be inclined to come over again. Her husband had really enjoyed our company and she hopes that we might help spark him into activity. We didn't do anything amazing, we were ourselves, showed love and talked about heading the counsel of our leaders. I was flattered by her phone call but understand that Lord was definitely present at the house. The Lord is the leader and all my companion and i can do is hope and pray we're following his counsel.

Monday night the exchange sisters came and help us out in our area. This was new for me, most of mission i served in the position and it felt weird to be on the other end. Monday i started feeling a little sick but pushed on through. Wednesday came around and my stomach was determined to no longer be ignored. Sister Grover and Sister Fallentine put me on house arrest so i stayed home Wednesday as sister Grover and sister Duncan went out working. By Thursday i was feeling a bit better and was able to make it to our appointment with Alexis. I was so happy that we were able to meet. I've been really worried about her. We hadn't seen or really heard from her for the last week and a half. We went over 1 Nephi 8 about Lehi's dream. Sister Duncan drew it out as we took turns reading and discussing. We committed her to read 1 Nephi 11 and 12 and to wrote down on the picture what each thing represented. That's what we are going to be doing with her today. The spirit was there and it went better than i could imagine. At the close Alexis stood up brought us into a big group hug and call us "her Missionaries." She is such a darling young women, and i can't wait to see her later today. Friday night we had a lesson with Violet. She's doing amazing reading you book of Mormon. We've continued to read with her. She seems to get so much more out our lessons that way. At the beginning of this lesson i felt the need to ask her if about how she was feeling. Particularly about if she was harboring feelings of regret and guilt. She opened up to us about how she was holding onto feelings about her son. Her son had passed away in the last year from a heart attack and she felt guilty that she didn't go see him before he passed. It was sudden with out warning, but she still feels guilty. She had questions about what happens after we die and we were able to turn to Alma 40 and 41. This calmed her down and i hope brought some peace to her soul. She doesn't want to set a baptismal date, but i have seen how her being in the scriptures and coming to church has started softening her heart. Sister Duncan became sick Saturday. She was feeling it slightly in the morning but still wanted to go out. Hoping i think that it would go away. We went up to Highland which is the farthest corner in our area about a 30 minute drive. We met up with our R.S president and did some stop bys with her which went really well. We were 3 for 3. But by this time sister Duncan was really not feeling well. We had a member give her a blessing and then we brought her home and put her to bed.

Sunday at church Anna our most progressing investigator in passing announced during R.S that she is getting baptized. She's not getting baptized until the 23rd of February but is really excited. Her son Eric is turning 8 on that date and although we just picked him up as a new investigator he wants to be baptized on that date as well. Yesterday was MLK day and of course the Library was closed. Transfer calls were Saturday night and there are a few changes so yesterday we got together as a district and played basketball and Volleyball. Sister Duncan and an Elder sat out. We played 3 on 3 half court BB, it was so much fun! Don't worry dad, i held my own on the court. :)

This morning we were pleasantly surprised to find snow falling and a collection already started on the ground and on our cars. When we went out this morning to exercise there was the signs of snow, just biting cold. It seems to have stopped for the moment.

I hope this letter finds you all well.

LOVE

sister salmon

P.S mom did you receive my itinerary? I did. crazy!

 

 

January 14, 2013

A few weeks ago Hannah and her companion were rear ended and she has been getting some treatments.  -just a note of explanation....

I'm not too worries about what Dr. Peck told me. If you want you can feel free to call him and ask him some questions. I'll be going to see him Wednesday so don't call until maybe Thursday. That way i can give them a heads up and you won't have any complications with getting the information you need. I don't think i have any major problems, not much pain. I do pop more in the back than i use to, and when i haven't gone in a while it get a little stiff. I can feel it especially if a sit too long. I talked to Claire about housing. I think be rooming with Keri so that should be fun. If i don't register till the first of March i think I'd rather wait and do my TB test out there. I could get it that weekend and then have the Dr. office fax the results. I don't really have time to do that much running around. Mom and i can "diet" life style change it together. I have some pounds i want to lose as well.

Sounds like a lot of crazy things are happening in the Newton Clan. I received my wedding announcment last week. Friday is the big day. WOW! I can hardly believe it. Mom we need to scedule a back packing beach hike trip before school, just a couple of days...maybe that will give you some incentive.

Sister Clark and President Clark are such sweethearts. I will greatly miss seeing their smiling faces. They love the work and they love the missionaries here. You can just feel it when they enter the room.

I've been doing a lot of reading these last couple of weeks. I alternate between the New Testament and the Doctrine & Covenants as my focus points. Here are a list of some of my latest favorite scriptures:
D&C 42:29, 40, 52, 60 and then 1 Corinthians 9:24, 10:22, Romans 15:1

I've recently been learning about weakness and also agency. I think one of the hardest things for me to see is people using their agency unwisely. It kills me to see it. But at the same time i know how important agency is to God's plan. That is how we learn. I can't expect people to know and understand the things i know if they haven't experienced it themselves. Its like trying to explain what salt tastes like to someone who has never tasted salt. "its salty?" ya it doesn't work too well.
Violet came to church and stayed for the first two hours. That is huge for her. She's only ever stayed for sacrament. And we set a baptismal date with Anna. We saw her this last week and she accepted the invitation. We set it for February 23rd, that's her sons birthday. He will be turning 8 on that date. We asked Anna if we could start teaching Eric her son, which she also said yes to. So hopefully as we teach we can have them both shoot for the 23rd of February. We tasted some sad disappointment this morning. Debbie whom we thought was progressing so well called and told us that she and Tony wanted to stop meeting with us for the moment. This is always a sad thing to hear, again sometimes agency as good and important as it is can also be very frustrating. I think it really made sister Duncan sad. She's had a pretty easy first couple of weeks on the mission. But i know that it is through our choices that we grow. God gave man agency from the very beginning. It's a very precious and sacred gift from our Heavenly Father. Desiring/forcing someone to make certain decisions was what Lucifer wanted for us. How happy i am have been given the ability to make choices for myself. I am not perfect, i have many faults and make more mistakes than i'd like to own up to. But at the same time i have learned so much. I am grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who knows what we need and will prompt us in the right direction when needed. I am grateful for the companionship of the Holy Ghost. He has becoming my favorite companion here in the mission field. I have learned much from the quiet promptings he places in my heart.

much love sister salmon

January 2013

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