Mission Newsletter #2

Hello Everyone!

I love you all so, so much! I miss you all so much, but don't worry. I'm not homesick like I was in the beginning of the MTC. Everything is going so well, but let me do a break down before I get ahead of myself.

The last of my time at the MTC flew by soooo fast. I was just getting a hang of everything and really enjoying my time there when we were shipped out. We didn't get much sleep before the flight. We had to be up & going by 2:30 AM!!!! We also got to bed late cuz we had to pack and clean our room. So total amount of sleep: 2 hours. Total amount of catch up sleep: 0 hours.  So, let's just say I have dosed at the baptism of a little boy in the ward when the bishop was killing time, waiting for them to get dressed and cleaned up. Whatever though! That is not a surprise with me at all. Haha.

Everyone excited to start the Alabama journey. (Sis. Drummond in the front. She was my temporary companion on the first night here)

Alabama has been great so far. There is quite a bit of poverty. I didn't really expect that to be true. Everyone is so sweet though. It is so religious so they are really friendly and nice and THEN reject the message. At least they are way nice about it first. I love that. But seriously, it is so religious. One business building said, "JESUS 'Then Business'." How funny! It is such a different culture, but I love it. I can't wait to show you, Mom & Dad, out here to see everything I have so far.

My first view of Alabama - so green and beautiful!

My companion is Sister Senior. She is so nice! I love her. We have gotten along great. She is from Utah and did ballroom dancing professionally until age 17, but she still loves to dance and go to Latin clubs and such. She has a boyfriend in ARGENTINA, too! Buenos Aires. How crazy is that?! He lives there, though. He's from Argentina and is going to Medical School right now. He is already an RM. His name is Nikko. It's so cute though. He sends her packages for her and her companions. He is a sweetheart. It's really funny all the things we have in common. Also, the night before we became companions, she dreamed her new companion was going be have long brown hair and be 22. I call that revelation.

Me and my companion, sis. Senior. The first day we met. :)

We have quite a few investigators right now. Tywanna is really progressing a lot. She has a heart of gold. She is always wanting to learn more and more. We talked to her about the plan of salvation this last time and she was so relieved she flopped back on the couch and reclined and said, "That makes me so happy!" With a huge smile on her face. She was so joyful. It was seriously the cutest thing I have ever seen. We are also starting to teach Christian. He is 17 and is very promising. He seems interested. He has been going to church (a different one) on his own for years and his friend Marlee in our ward referred him to us. He has accepted baptism after our first lesson with him and our hopes for him is that he will serve a mission too. :) Essex and Kenny are cousins. They have had all the discussions, we are just getting them to come to church so they can be baptized. They used to smoke a pack a day, but the sisters had them commit to lose one cigarette a week. By the time I came, they were at 1 cigarette a day. Now they are completely off them! They are so strong and they have done great! They haven't cheated at all. Kenny especially loves learning what we teach. Essex especially loves to talk. haha. They are great though. There are a few more we are teaching as well and then we are working with less actives/recent converts, but it's hard to talk about everyone.

The thing I have learned most this week is love. Missionary work isn't as stressful and hard as I had thought. Basically, speak simple truths and love them. Can I also say, the Lord knows me so well. He sent me to the perfect mission for me with a wonderful companion. He has given me everything I need to jump right in and love every minute of it. I also went tracting, which was like my greatest fear, and it wasn't bad!  I feel like He has just been helping me every step of the way.

I feel like it has been so long since I have talked to everyone because so many big things have happened in only one short week. I can tell this mission is going to fly already!

Well, I love you all and I miss you! Xoxo
-Sister Salmond

P.S. Sister Senior and I ordering XL Fried Lovers! They are from Ralley's. They have their own seasoning which tastes like a poultry seasoning.

Also, at Sister Ali's she was making dinner as she left and it was french fries with ground beef, cheddar cheese, and a homemade classic white gravy. A true Southern meal. Never would see that in Utah. haha. Maybe you guys could try that one too!

Oh! Sister Gunter, a Japanese lady in the ward, made us curry and rice with a good salad. The dressing was rice vinegar, sesame oil, salt, and Japanese seasoning. Might make a good asian salad for dinner one night with nuts, mandarin oranges, chicken, carrots, etc.