Dear Family,

We had zone conference this past week and as usual it was incredible.  President Collins talked to us about prayer and opening up that communication with him and being able to receive revelation.  It was kind of sad because they have the missionaries who are leaving this transfer bear their testimonies, and it was hard to see some of the missionaries that have made great relationships with leave, Sister Vanderhooft, Elder Nash, Elder Van Zant, Elder Worden, and Elder Edwards.  It was a great day though and Sister Bankhead and I learned so much.  Our area is doing so well, and we are seeing the blessings of obedience.  We had stake conference yesterday, and our stake president reminds me so much of President Mower.  Love is an overwhelming attribute of stake presidents. 

Donna is amazing and absolutely wonderful. We had a lesson with her at the church and she told us that satan was working on her and she almost didn't come, but she was glad she did. We gave her a church tour and she was just loving every minute of it. We ended in the chapel and  the spirit was of course there and she felt it. She told us she had been reading the Book of Mormon and has a feeling when she reads it that she loves and she felt it again in our lesson. She kept telling us over and over that she didn't think we could 'move' her, but we did, well the spirit moved her and she was happy. She had hope when we met with her and we committed her to baptism and she said that thought kept coming through her mind all day. She knows that is the step she needs to take. It was an incredible lesson and the spirit taught her. She came to church yesterday and enjoyed herself and she is doing great.

We also had another investigator at church yesterday, Harold, and we were so happy to see him come. We thought he wasn't going to show because his phone was shut off on Sunday morning and we waited and waited, and then 10 minutes before church started he walked in:) He told us he almost didn't come because he was having car trouble but he kept trying and was able to get to the church safely. He was really excited for our next lesson this week, so that was a good sign.

I caught a horrible cold that put me down for a bit, oh bother it was miserable, I'm about 20% better, so it's getting there.  It was awful at our district meeting earlier this week, everyone was sick and we were quite the site, hoards of tissues and hand santitizer.  It was pretty funny actually, but we were all down.  The weather is beautiful here and I hope it stays like this all week and forever! 

Love,

Sister Lamb

Dear Family,

 

SAM IS GETTING BAPTIZED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! gaaaaaa!!!!!!!  Oh my gosh I cannot contain myself, it was the best lesson ever and the best valentines day.  We went up to their home and we had lunch and a lesson.  Sam told us that he feels he is ready to be baptized.  I couldn't believe what I was hearing, I had the salad bowl in one hand and the tongs in another and when he said that he feels he is ready, I just sat there holding the salad bowl and tongs and was speechless and stunned.  Dixie started laughing and I still didn't know what to do and then I wanted to give him a hug so bad, but we can't, so I cried, Hahahaha:)  He has been meeting with missionaries for years and he is ready now.  He is getting baptized on March 4 and the ward and all his friends couldn't be happier.  They asked me to play a musical number at the baptism so I put together a medley of Childrens songs.  I'm so happy, I just cried when he told us.  His heart was open to the spirit and testified to him that this is what he needs to do, I'm thrilled that he came to know for himself.  AAAHHHHH I just love him so much and it's going to be a really special day for him. 

 

I went on exchanges with Sister Gillman and I was able to go to her area in North Vernon. We didn't have any teaching appointments, but we did some service for a member and went tracting. We were able to see some miracles as we tracted. Sister Gillman is an amazing daughter of God. She knows why she is here and I love the spirit that is with her continually. It was great to get to know her more and relate to her about our calling as missionaries. She is just wonderful and I loved being with her for the day. She is like me at times, where we worry and stress over things but we are grateful that we can take a step back and feel that calm and peace from our Heavenly Father. I love her a lot and respect her.

We were able to find a lot of potentials that last few days, and we went to a stake activity that was a memorial for a member who recently passed away.  It was so much fun!!!!  Ed was from Hawaii and was also Samoan, so they had Hawaiian food and dancers, and did dances from some of the different islands.  I loved it!  I wanted to get up there and dance with them, but we had a great time!   The stake invited everyone from his work, and so it was a great finding activity, we did find a potential and have a lesson with him this week.

 

We received a referral from a member this past week, it was her mom who just lost her granddaughter. Her name is Donna Weaver, and when her granddaughter died, she took it really hard. She was living with them and she died on their couch the day after Christmas. The funeral was held at the stake center and there were a lot of non-members and a member of her family, lives in Utah and was touched by the funeral and the spirit that was there, that they started meeting with missionaries in Utah and are getting baptized in a few weeks. Donna was also touched by the spirit and the timing was perfect. We had a great lesson with her, she needed time to let us know how she was feeling and how this has been such a hard time for her. I was just praying to Heavenly Father to help Sister Bankhead and I know what to say, but the only thing I knew to do was to hold her hand for that moment. We were able to testify of the Book of Mormon and how this is going to help her know of God's plan and that she will see her granddaughter again. I love the Book of Mormon!   

 

We got some snow last week but it's all gone, it's a little chilly but a few days ago, we just needed a jacket, so a mild winter is an understatement here.  Sister Bankhead are doing just dandy and staying busy.  We have zone conference this week and I'm way excited, I'm going to be doing a musical number there, so we'll see how that goes. 

 

Love,

Sister Lamb

Dear Family,
I was so happy to hear that Sister Summers stopped by!!!!! Things are going really well here. We had a two day leadership training and it was absolutely amazing. It threw Sister Bankhead and I a little off to not be in our area for 2 days, but we got back into the swing of things in no time! It was so fun to be around so many missionaries and I got to see Sister Little and so that made me so happy. She is doing well and she is serving up in Lafeyette, we haven't seen each other in a few months so it was great little reunion. Sister Lambson was there and Sister Collins about flipped out when she saw us both. "MY LITTLE LAMBY'S!!!!!" President just laughs and shakes his head. I love trainings from President Collins and he empasized at the beginning of the training that a member of the Godhead, the Holy Ghost, will be with us. It just puts a whole new perspective on things!

We stayed in Anderson and I loved being back there. It was amazing, we stopped by a recent converts house to see how she is, and I taught her the first time she got introduced to the church and then I got transferred the following week, but when we showed up on her door step she recognized me! It made my heart so happy! Then Sister Carter was on the phone with an investigator that I also worked with when I was here, and she told him and his wife, Devonna and Charlie, that I was here, and they wanted to talk to me, it was so good to hear their voices. Then right before we left the next morning, Charlie pulled up because he wanted to say hello! I was so grateful, I only served there for one transfer but I loved those people and that area so much!

Sister Bankhead and I are doing really well and having a lot of fun. She has been doing great and is speaking up a lot more in our lessons! I'm so proud of her. She has a desire to help these people and I love that about her. I was telling Sister Collins at the training how grateful I am that I have the opportunity to train again, it's been a really special experience, as were the other times, but I'm glad I get to be with Sister Bankhead. I see her improving, even though she may not see it, but I do and I love it. I had a lot of the same fears that she does when I first came out, and so I'm happy I can help her overcome them.

Michaela is getting baptized this Saturday!!!!!! The ward has been so supportive and we are all so excited for her. Michaela is so happy and her boyfriend, who is a less active, is also so happy and making awesome changes in his life as well. It was so funny, we were having her try on jumpsuits and she is so stinkin skinny that she was just lost inside of all of them, but one of the members of the bishopric, his wife, brought her temple dress and it was perfect. We are also way excited because Michaela is going to be doing a musical number at the baptism, so that will be really special. We met a family the other night, and the wife is a less active and her husband is not a member. They are the cutest little family, they have three kids and were really receptive to us. We taught them about having family prayer, and the one little girl that is 4, said that she thinks family prayer would bring them closer together. Oh the feeling that came over me when she said those words, was lovely! This precious little child understood why they need to prayer and it invited the Spirit into their home! I love this area!!!

It was so funny, we had a lesson with a guy, John, and we were teaching him about the Word of Wisdom. He is a stubborn guy and he has been smoking since he was 6 and so he didn't think it would be possible for him to stop. He was able to quit drinking cold turkey, but doesn't have the desire to stop smoking because he said that he is mean when he doesn't smoke. We told him that we could help him with a plan to stop and so the whole time the spirit is telling me to take 7 cigarrettes, I don't know why but finally I asked for them and he put up a little fight but then gave them to me, well threw them on the floor, but nonetheless, he gave them to me:) It was pretty awesome. We will see how he does these next few days.

Love, Sister Lamb

Dear Family,

My new companion is a sweetheart. Her name is Sister Bankhead and she is from Idaho and she has brother that is also serving, they went into the MTC together! She is way cute and we have been having fun so far:) She is pretty shy and so we are working a lot with our teaching so that it is 50/50. She had to let some tears out yesterday and I was grateful that she did. I know exactly what she is feeling because it's scary and overwhelming at the beginning. I was able to share with how much I have had to rely on the Lord, that is the only way that I have been able to get to where I am today. He has held my hand the whole time and I know will always be there. I shared with her how much prayer has been a powerful tool for me. My prayer journal means the world to me and I have been able to realize who I'm kneeling before and that He is listening to me. It's so cool. She is going to be great and I'm excited to be a part of her journey in this work that I love so much!

Michaela is progressing and getting very excited for her baptism. She will be having her interview this week. She has been so much fun to teach and is understanding these principles well for a 17 year old. She sent us a message this past week that as she has been praying specifically about prophets she is receiving clarity. We gave her the website to go and watch Thomas S. Monson share a message and I think that will confirm to her that he is the prophet today. She felt like she had to know everything about each prophet, but we reassured her and we know as she listens to a modern day prophet that He will help her with guidance and comfort for what she is going through right now in her life.

We met with two new investigators, Stacy and Leslie. Leslie met with missionaries once before but didn't learn a whole lot and so we were grateful she was very open to meeting with us. We got to know her and her expectations. She has a desire to read from the Book of Mormon and said she wants to do the things that will help her know her purpose. We committed her to baptism and she accepted. We are going to set a date with her tonight. Stacy is someone that we tracted into and we actually talked to her dad the first time and then when we tried back, Stacy invited us in and told us her life story. This gospel is for everyone and I love having that confirmed to me as I meet people from all walks of life and that the gospel can give someone direction and I hope Stacy can feel that as we start to teach her.

It's going to be a crazy week, I have a two day leadership training to go to in Fishers, so I'm excited for that, especially to hear from President Collins. He just amazes me every time he speaks. I also love being around all the missionaries, the spirit is so solid when we all get together. Transfers was kind of sad because, Sister Vanderhooft and Sister Marshall are leaving at the end of this transfer. I hate seeing my friends leave! The weather is so weird here and can't make up it's mind. We have had lots of rain and wind but winter hasn't really showed up, besides the ice storm last week. I'm grateful that winter hasn't been here in full force, but I'm just waiting for it still:) I cannot believe that February is here, but I love Valentines day, even though I can't exactly celebrate it, I love the candy and all the cute hearts in the stores, it makes my heart smile!!

Love, Sister Lamb