My emotions are so close to the surface but I'm enduring. I was studying it this morning and I fasted yesterday about continuing to receive direction as I make a transition that I'm scared for. I just need to continue living the gospel and look to God. It was a tender mercy from the Lord as I was reading in the Book of Mormon in Alma 36 and 37. I know the Lord is going to fulfill His promises and I have been looking to my patriarchal blessing for that and trusting that it is eternal in nature. 

 

The Lord is so good. I will never ever forget the feelings and that experience of being with Elder Neil L. Anderson.  That was such a sacred experience and I just have been giving thanks to Heavenly Father for letting me have that experience before I go home. He is an apostle and witness of Christ, there was an overwhelming conviction of that. Words can't explain but I know that Jesus is the Christ. 

 

Our prayers reached heaven, the Lord blessed us immensly so that we could reach our goals. We relied a lot on the members and they were there for us. We had an incredible lesson with the guy that came to church last week and he is 25 and single so we let the zone leaders know and he went to their branch yesterday. He sent us a text yesterday and told us how he liked it and that he is giving baptism serious consideration. He felt the spirit and I know the zone leaders will take care of him and help him strengthen his testimony. We are teaching a new investigator, Joyce, and what a gem. She opened up to us yesterday about some things that she has been feeling the weight of and Sister Berrett and I were able to teach of the love of our Savior and His Atonement. She has been reading the Book of Mormon this week and told us that she has been feeling peace. She is a blessing. Jay and his wife Kristi are loving the gospel and the blessings from it, they are temple bound and as we taught them the Plan of Salvation and Jay just loved learning about it. In church yesterday, Jay came but also some less actives that haven't been in awhile and they stayed for sunday school. Love it.

 

I love you all!!!!

 

Love,

Sista Lamb

Dear Family,

 

It was so wonderful to talk you yesterday.  I am very grateful for each of you and for the importance of family that is part of this great plan.  I have been learning lessons that will forever change my outlook on life.  Because I have come to know my Savior and my Heavenly Father I now have a lot of hope.  Hope in the Atonement, it is real.  I love being immersed in this gospel and having the guidance of the spirit.  Just yesterday we were driving home from a lesson and we were going to contact a refferral and the whole drive, the thought just kept coming to me that we shouldn't try them at that moment, wait another day.  I didn't say anything for a minute or two, but then I told Sister Berrett and she stood with me with my prompting.  I know sometimes I don't understand completely why but trusting in the spirit is very special and sacred to me.  My mission is sacred to me.  I am in awe of this journey that I have been on.  I thank my Heavenly Father every day for letting me experience His love in an intense way. 

 

We have an awesome week ahead of us and we are just going, going!!!!  Sorry I don't have much to write this week, since I just talked with you yesterday:)  Remember that I love you each dearly and I pray that the Lord will protect each of us. 

 

Love,

Sister Lamb

Dearest Family,

Oh my goodness what a week. The Lord is taking of care of us, I do know that. He is giving me strength and has never left my side, the work is going strong and I know Sister Berrett and I are doing our best together. That is what the Lord has asked of us. We didn't have any one come to church yesterday, and that was so hard. We were trained on it in district meeting, we applied those things all week and worked so hard and no one came. We went to see Heather and her family,  I guess it has been a really hard week for her and she was so sad yesterday, it just broke my little heart. We went over D&C 20:37 with her and  she does have a desire to be baptized and has been talking to her sister-in-law who recently got baptized and it is giving her reassurance as well. I am praying for her ferverently that she will continue to progress and stop smoking for good. I want her to stay strong in the gospel and not be a checklist convert. She will be okay, the Lord will take care of her. Jay and Kristie are incredible and my heart swelled when Jay told us that he knew this was all true.  It was a powerful lesson and we set a date with him for June 16.  We had been walking all around Spencer, and so we were walking down their driveway and we were so excited so we found a tall bush and jumped and screamed and then continued walking.  The next day in my personal study I was studying conversion and as I was reading it, I knew Jay has been converted. He wants his extended family to come to church and at least take a chance. We had a great lesson with a few other investigators as we taught them the importance of coming to church. There is a man named Don, whom I have a lot of faith in and he wants these things so much but we just need to help him act. When he taught him about the Sabbath and the sacrament he wanted it and we expected him to come yesterday, he didn't.

We went to see a few recent converts and the Lord was with us as we helped them realize the blessings that will help them continue to get through their trials. Michaela is an absolute gem and I feel like the ward has forgotten about her. She needs to be embraced. We had dinner with an adorable family yesterday, and the husband was just reassigned as her home teacher and he was showing such great concern for her and what he could do to help her feel comfortable. I know we just need to keep leading her. She is 17 and is lost especially with her family situation. That is one thing that I have learned on my mission and how much I wasn't really aware of how bad things can get at home. She has a mom who has boyfriends in and out of the house and her mom isn't very stable and it's taking a toll on her. Keep her in your prayers please. I love her so much. And sweet sweet Donna, who's health is not well. Her eyesight is failing fast, and she cried and cried when she told us she couldn't read the Book of Mormon. The Lord blessed her to see the wonderful things of the gospel, but I know she has been able to see much more than just physical things, she has seen her family start to come into the gospel, she has eternal perspective, she is going to see her granddaughter who passed away. This work is much more than a baptism on a Saturday, I will be with these people for eternity and now they know that.

Sister Berrett and I are just doing swell and having a lot of fun.  I swear we walked 50000 miles this week, but we had lovely adventures along the way.  She is a hoot!!!!!!! 

gospel's true and the book is blue!!

love,

Sister Lamb

Dear Family, 

 

It has been incredible to see the miracles that are happening especially with Jay and Heather. Jay is feeling the spirit as he comes to church, but we are having a hard time getting him to stay for all of church. We brought it up in ward coucil and they gave great suggestions and we are going to have come for a church tour and hopefully that will help. He told us at our lesson this past week that he has been to a lot of churches before but has never had the feelings he's been experiencing. Heather is pregnant and so that has been a tender mercy because she will stop smoking and is more determined to quit. Their family is happy, because of the spirit has been influencing them. The Lord has always been with them but now they are noticing it and experiencing it.

This week I'm hoping we can do some more finding and continue to use the spirit to help us. It's been kind of an overwhelming thought but it is easier to seek that revelation for others and what the Lord needs me to do for them, but when it comes to receiving revelation for myself, that hasn't been as easy. I have been keeping a revelation journal and I need to trust that all the thoughts that I have written down througout the day and after my prayers are of the Lord. It's just scary to follow some of the promptings for myself. Things are changing and I know I have changed, I just pray that I can still be this person that I have become. I feel very respected and loved here and I hope I can continue with the relationships that I have made here.

 

Sister Berrett and I are just loving life and continuing to get the giggles until we can't breath, it's pretty awesome.  She has been such a strength to me.  We are way excited because today we are going to a little town called Nashville and spend the day there.  We are going with the Martinsville sisters, who we spend any chance we can together.  The four of us are definitely in each others lives for a reason.  It has been a great sisterhood that we each cherish. 

 

We went and did a lot of service on Saturday and spent some time gardening in the rain, luckily we had some snazzy rain boots:)  We helped a member in her garden and it was a blast.  She took us to lunch and she is so sweet and she ordered some more food for a homeless man that she saw along the way.  It was good to be with her in that moment.  We also went to help an older couple, Bill and Aggie, clean out their freezers in their garage.  We taught them a lesson afterwards about service and Aggie said that she started feeling warm fuzzies.  We were so happy because Aggie was recognizing the spirit and that what we are teaching her is true.  Sweet sweet couple.  I don't know if they will accept the gospel in this life but they will eventually. 

Dear Family,

Oh my goodness, Sister Berrett and I are having a blast! She is good little missionary and we are both incredibly happy.  We have the giggles everyday to the point where I start crying, it's so awesome!  We were talking about that last night and she told me that she know this is where she is supposed to be. I know she is and it's going to be a great transfer. We have been able to see the miracles continue here in Highland. Heather is doing great and their family is so happy. We were there on Saturday and Uriah, her husband, was glowing and I know they are both working to stop smoking. They came to church yesterday and we are hoping they will stay for the second hour next week. They said they are working up to it, I hope we can help to do so. The ward has been incredible in making sure they are going up to them after sacrament. I have seen the spirit leading this family, all the people that I have taught, the spirit is guiding them to make right choices. I have been merely an instrument in the Lord's hands. Jay Anderson is doing well and is feeling more comfortable at church. We are hoping he can get a few solid fellowshippers besides his family. The ward is doing great with him as well. This ward means a lot to me and I have seen it change. I love being a missionary.   There is a lady in our ward that takes care of her great grandson and he is 3 years old and he is absolutely adorable and loves when we come over for dinner.  Apparently he was talking to someone asking if they knew me, and he told them that I was his girlfriend and that I was the best.  My heart melted when she told me that in relief society. 

Sister Berrett and I had a few lovely experiences in some lessons this week. We came home and there was a guy sitting on the stairs in our apartment building and we offered him some water and talked to him for a bit. He was such a sweet man and we started talking about the plan of salvation and the hope that comes from knowing he is a child of God. We sang 'I am a child of God' to him and it was special to look at him directly in the eyes as we testified through song. At a lesson yesterday, it started out pretty hectic and lots of distractions and then halfway through it became calm and he told us he knew what we were saying was sincere. Sister Berrett and I bore testimony of the Book of Mormon the entire time and he felt the sincerity.   Heather and Uriah have two little boys and Aiden, turned one this weekend so we stopped by to celebrate for a little bit with them and he is just a ball of joy.  He really got into the cake after a bit and it was funny.  Tate thought it was his birthday, he is 5, and wanted to open up all aiden's presents, so we had to calm him down:) 

Sister Berrett has a powerful testimony and I love our companion studies and I have so much to learn from her. She has incredible knowledge and insight of the scriptures and I love listening to her. She is amazing. The Lord needs us here in Highland.

It's a bit chilly here, but the sunshine is wonderful.  It was pretty funny at district meeting this past week, because our district that we had at the beginning of last transfer is the exact same.  Sister Bankhead went to Martinsville and Sister Berrett came here.  We have been having way too much fun:) 

Love,

Sister Lamb 

P.S. Mom you would be so proud of me, I hemmed an elder's pants....and it turned out great:)))))

 

Dear Family,

We had transfer calls this morning and I'm staying in Bloomington.  I'm so excited, this place means a lot to me and I'm glad I get to finish out here.  It has been a great week and I'm grateful everyday for Sister Bankhead. We have been seeing great success in Highland, we hit a rut for a minute, but it is growing and I love this area so very much. It's going to be very hard to say goodbye to Sister Bankhead, she really is one of my best friends and I'm so lucky to have her in my life and to have been one of her companions. She has a lot in store for her and I'm glad she is taking those steps so that she will be able to enjoy them more and more. I love her sooooooo much!!!!

The efforts that we put forth this past week were made manifest at church yesterday. Heather  and Jay  came to church with their families. Heather is doing well and is working on quitting smoking. She is preparing for baptism on May 26 and her husband, Uriah, is taking those steps with her. He is a less active but his testimony needs to be built as well. When we set the date with Heather, we had a member come and he gave her and Uriah a priesthood blessing, and Heather was able to connect that the rest of their evening was calm. When we followed up on church last night, Uriah said that the talks were exactly what he needed and that it hit the spot. Heather loved being at church and is opening up to us more. Jay  is Donna's  granddaughters husband. Her granddaughter is a member but has been inactive for years and they both have made decisions that caused a lot of grief in their family. Jay came to Donna's baptism and said that he would never forget it. We were able to meet with him and his wife and they came to church yesterday and they are both excited to learn. The ward was amazing yesterday and made efforts to go up to Heather and Jay and introduce themselves and made them feel welcome. We had dinner with one of the bishopric members and he told us that we had been doing a great job and thanked us for the work we have been doing. It meant so much to Sister Bankhead and I.

Sister Bankhead and I had a miracle happen in a lesson that we were both terrified for. We had committed Pam to baptism the week before and she had some questions on Priesthood authority and we told we would study her questions and come back. Sister Bankhead and I were stressing and came together in our companion study of what is going to be best for her. We had a member with us and we had a prayer in our heart the entire time. I know I was praying so hard that the spirit would enlighten her. We taught simply and she had a few ah-ha moments. She understood and the member that was with us connected with her. It was incredible. The spirit was teaching her and I thrive off of those moments. I love it. I just wish she would follow through with coming to church and hopefully we can help her understand the importance of the Sabbath day.

This work is full of miracles and I am a lucky girl to be here at this time in my life. I know I have given my best to the Lord and I will continue to every day. I know what it's like to have the guidance of the spirit and to simply be an instrument in His hands, I will seek that always.

Love,

Sister Lamb

Dear Family and Friends,

 

I love general conference!!!!!!!!!  On friday night, I was like a little girl the night before Christmas dreaming about her barbie dream house.  Okay maybe that was an exaggeration, but I just couldn't wait!  I had a great week preparing for conference and prayfully went into conference.  I had specific questions and Heavenly Father was aware of me and those questions were answered.  Not necessarily an entire talk but little phrases that were said rang true to my heart and brought me peace of mind for now and confidence in my future.  We watched with our district on Saturday and then had a picnic between sessions.  Sister Bankhead and I made homemade cinnamon rolls the night before and they were delightful.  On Sunday afternoon we went up and watched it with Sam and Dixie.  It was the first time they have been able to be home and watch it, they usually have to listen to it because they travel so much.  It was great to watch with them and talk about our favorite talks with them.  Sam is doing great and is temple bound and is going to receive his patriarchal blessing and the priesthood.  His progression is fun to be a part of.  Donna was so excited to watch conference and she has had a great testimony of a living prophet from when we started teaching her. 

 

Sister Bankhead and I have been doing well and it's incredible to see her progression.  She has had a few bumps in the road this week and I hope I can continue to be a strength to her so that she can get through this.  Mission life is an adjustment and is an emotional rollercoaster.  I definitely know how she feels and so I'm more than willing to walk this path with her.  She is a strength to me and I love her very much.  It's been just a weird week in general and so I'm grateful for a fresh start this week.  We have interviews this week and I'm always so excited to meet with President and have him pour out his all knowing wisdom:))  I was getting after him for eating lamb, but I was grateful because Sister Collins backed me up..hahaha.  He asked me how I'm from Mountain Green and don't like lamb.  I just don't have the heart to eat it, but next week for Easter a family invited us over for dinner and they are going to do an authentic passover meal.  I have to eat lamb.........pray for me...hahaha

 

I love you all so much!!!!!!

 

Love,

Sister Lamb

Dear Family,

Yesterday, was a day full of miracles. In Sacrament meeting, Sam  said the opening prayer and then it was fast and testimony meeting and he bore his testimony. It was beautiful. Then two members of the ward, received the Melchidek priesthood not too long ago, blessed the Sacrament. I was so proud of them and I know their wives were as well, these families have been through a lot, but the Atonement and the gospel have made it possible for them to work towards becoming eternal families. Donna  was confirmed and the spirit that was felt throughout our lessons together and her baptism, was in abudance yesterday. She's not alone and she felt that yesterday. Her baptism was absolutely incredible. President, I can't describe how special it was and I will never forget it. She had family members there that are not members and they definitely felt something. It was an amazing spiritual experience for everyone that was there. She was baptized at the YMCA swimming pool and it was after hours so no one was there. As soon as we walked in I felt the spirit there with us. Donna's health is not doing well, and she isn't going to fight her cancer. My little heart weeps when she tells us that, but I know she was holding on so that she could be baptized and be an example to her family. Her family will follow, I know that. We sang 'Families can be together forever' at her baptism and it was powerful. Her family will be eternal.

I think about the people that I have met here and my recent converts that mean so much to me, and I know that I promised Heavenly Father that I would bring His children back to Him. I felt that confirmation very strongly a few days ago. I'm supposed to be here now, at this age, in Indiana. I read in the previous general conference issue and there was a talk about missions and how where we serve can be holy ground, I believe that. I just thanked my Heavenly Father last night for this experience, for all the experiences I have had on my mission, I have no regrets. Sister Bankhead told me the other day that she noticed I was doubling my efforts, I want to do all that I can as time is getting shorter. I want to use the experiences and lessons to continue to be on the Lords errand.

I feel like I can help other people know they can receive answers to their prayers and feel God's love through prayer. I am able to receive revelation for others, but I had been going to Heavenly Father with some personal questions and felt like if He knows me then why are certain things happening when He knew how I would react. I don't like it when I question Heavenly Father and ask WHY, why now, but I found myself having a hard time trusting Him and the plan that He has for me. I felt like Enos, and I just prayed and prayed waiting for something. He answered. I have already received an answer and I wasn't willing to accept or act on the answer. I had to change my prayer and let Him know that I was willing now. The peace came. The focus came back. I know that God is there and now I know more than ever that He is there for me.   In our district meeting we were talking about prayer and that came to my mind. I am grateful that we can follow Christ's example, not only in baptism, but in all things and kneel as He did in the Garden. I was reading about that in the Bible Dictionary and the spirit filled my heart and prayer is more important to me than ever. I need it.

Sister Bankhead and I had some exciting events happen to us this week!  We were studying in the morning and we heard our Carbon Monoxide alarm go off, I know right, crazy, so we called our landlord and our district and then we had to call the mission office.  They told us to go and stay with the sisters in Martinsville that night and someone would come check it out in the morning.  Sister Bankhead and I come back in the morning and they sure got someone to come check it out all right, the fire department comes with their sirens blaring!!!!  Sister Bankhead and I just wanted to curl up and just go away!  They go in and check it out and it was fine but my goodenss it got made into a huge deal, we laugh about it now, but man oh man.  Then tornado sirens were going off like crazy this week.  We were having a lesson with Donna outside of the church and the sirens started going off and I have never seen Donna move so fast with her walker!!!!!  Last night the sisters from Martinsville came up and we blitzed IU campus and had some fun with sidewalk chalk, then they slept over and who knows what we are going to do today:) 

Dear Family,

Sister Bankhead and I are determined to keep the momentum up in the Bloomington area. We had the opportunity to speak in sacrament yesterday, and I felt guided by the spirit to express my gratitude to the ward and all their efforts. They really have helped us in many ways!  We had a training this past week and I will never get enough of hearing President speak to us.  He talked about following the spirit and how the spirit is protective of the doctrine.  It was awesome, as usual.  Sister Bankhead and I are doing a lot of finding and we have actually found some promising potentials.  The Lord is taking care of us.   

Donna is doing fantastic and Sister Parker, from the mission office, came to a lesson with us on Friday. It was so good to have her and hear her testimony, I know Donna appreciated it as well. She had her baptismal interview and is very excited for Saturday, as are we! She means a lot to me and I cry in every lesson without fail, the spirit is working in her and I love being around her. We talked to her about the Holy Ghost and how it will be her constant companion and she got very excited about that.  I know we have to do a lot of finding right now, but I'm not afraid to put in that work and that it will take time. I know as Sister Bankhead and I continue to be obedient that we feel peace, which I know is the Lord letting us know that He is pleased.

Michaela and Sam are just going right along and doing well. We are going to be watching general conference on Sunday with Sam and I know that will be a great experience to watch that with them. We had a lesson with him yesterday and taught him of ways that he can share his testimony as he travels so much. He will influence a lot of people, he already has, but I know he can continue to do more.

The weather is gorgeous here!!! The magnolias and red buds are out and so lovely!!!!  Sister Bankhead and I have been walking outside a lot more, it's so nice, I can't get over it:)

Love,

Sister Lamb 

Dear Family,

 

Our district is amazing! It is incredibly strong and the testimonies that we all shared last week, have been on my mind a lot. I know we are going to be a strength to one another and help each others areas. It's powerful and the missionaries that are in my district are just that, and I'm very humbled to be around them and to learn from them.

 

Donna is continuing to progress each day and I just get very emotional in her lessons everytime she tells us about how she feels when she reads the Book of Mormon. How can it not be true! She has a very hard time seeing but everyday she puts forth any effort that she can to read. We are waiting for a large print Book of Mormon to come for her. Her diligence is inspiring and she is getting excited for her baptism on March 24. We talked to her daughter and she wants us to teach more of her family now. We are blessed in this area. Sam is doing well and it felt so right as he received the gift of the Holy Ghost yesterday. Harold is another investigator who we are excited about and has been reading from the Book of Mormon and really wants to come to church. He was sick yesterday and couldn't come, but when he came last time, he enjoyed it.

 

We had an awesome lesson with a lady that we met at the Shaloam center, where we do service each week.  We met with her before and she just doesn't believe their is life after death and that we are here to make the most of life and that's it.  We taught her about her relationship with God and that he does have a plan and we lived with Him before.  It definitely made her think and we gave her a Book of Mormon and she had started reading it and was frustrated because she said that a chapter could be summed up in one verse:)  It was kind of funny.  We asked her if she would continue and she said she wanted to and that she wants to come to church.  We didn't think she would want to.  Sister Bankhead and I were in awe, and excited that she wants to come!  It was a tender mercy that day.

 

We are working with the ward council to help a lot of the part member families in the ward.  We are starting to see miracles happen and I'm grateful for the support that we have from the ward.  They are so good to us and I hope I stay in this area.  Miracles are everywhere as we both take the time to see them everyday.  I know it's still in a couple of weeks but I'm getting excited for general conference!!!! 

 

Daylight savings is a rough!  We had ward council at 7:00 a.m. and about 8:00, a member walks in and starts joking if the meeting started at 6:00 and we were all like it's 8:00 and he stops and was a little stunned and we told him it was daylight savings!  His reaction was priceless and then left again to go call his wife:)  We are going fishing today with Sam and Dixie, yeah that will be an adventure!!!!!

 

Love,

Sister Lamb 

 

 

Dear Family,

Sam Davis' baptism was remarkable. I have just been telling Heavenly Father how grateful I am that I was able to be a part of his life. He truly has made an impact on my life. There was a lot of support from the ward and they just have always embraced him and so I know he will continue to progress. He is a great example of the Lord's timing.   Elder Lance Wickman, of the 70, was there and he came to church and as I met him and interacted with him throughout the day, I felt such a connection. I felt he knew my spirit and I felt so much goodness from him. I have been having those days where Satan puts those doubts in my mind and I believe them, and I have felt a little off. I know I have been giving my all regardless, but I felt off. Sister Bankhead and I were teaching gospel principles and we were teaching about Heavenly Father and how he gave us each talents and ablilities to bless one another and to become like Him. It was an amazing experience. I felt the spirit testifying to me the entire time we were teaching that it was true. I wondered how I could see my potential and Elder Wickman made a comment about each of us seeing ourselves the way God sees us. I then asked him how can we see our potential. I felt like I was pleading to him to help me understand and see it in myself. He simply said keep his commandments. I felt the burden lifted as he said that. I have a deep love for Elder Wickman and the spirit that he has. I'm grateful that Heavenly Father is aware of me and I was able to have another person in my life that has made an impact. The burdens that I was feeling were continuing to be lifted as a sister taught a wonderful lesson in Relief Society. Have hope, and have hope in the Atonement. I know that yesterday I experienced the power of the Atonement as I could take another step, as I gave my all, as I listened to the spirit. It was a wonderful day.

Donna is doing well and just makes my heart smile. We taught her the plan of salvation and as we taught it I knew that it was a plan from God. She felt that too, it gave her hope to know that her granddaughter that passed away is learning, just as she is now. She does have a hard time hearing and so she had a difficult time in church, but she kept telling us that the Lord knows she is there and the intent of her heart. One of my favorite things on the mission is when the people we teach say the prayer and they use Heavenly Father. Oh my goodness, I just feel overwhelmed with the spirit. I feel so lovely as they are praying because it is so personal and sincere. It's as if they are starting to believe that they have a Heavenly Father who is listening to them. I know He is listening to those prayers.

It was so funny as we were filling up the font for Sam's baptism, the font must have a leak or something, because we had it on for 2 hours and it wasn't very full at all.  Two members of the bishopric came and one of them brought a hose and we hooked it up and filled up the font:)  It was hillarious, we had a hose and we were filling up big pots full of water as well.  Oh we just had to laugh and it all worked out!  I got a happy phone call from on my recent converts, Chris, he was in Bloomington and he called us up and took us to ice cream.  It made my day to see him!!!  He got into dental school and will be heading to California later this summer.  I'm so proud of him and he is doing well and taking the temple prep class.  It's been weird to think that he was baptized almost a year ago.  Where is the time going???? 

It snowed last night and I'm not happy!  Luckily it's been pretty nice today but it's still a bit frigid.  Sister Bankhead and I are staying together for another tranfer!  That wasn't really a suprise since I'm training we are together for 2 transfers, but we are so happy anyway!!!  Love her to pieces.  We get the giggles and she truly is one of my best friends.  It's crazy though because my district leader and one of my zone leaders are going home today, and then we found out that their companions are being transferred so our we are a getting a new district and his companion and 2 new zone leaders.  Our little district is completely different!!!  We will find out on Wednesday who they are, so Sister Bankhead and I are pretty excited though. 

Love,

Sister Lamb

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

Dear Family,
I had a great week from exchanges to interviews. It was so wonderful to have that one on one time with President Collins and to seek comfort and advice from him. I know the things that we talked about were from the spirit and as I have applied those things, I have felt refreshed:) He is an amazing person that I'm very privileged to serve under. I also went on exchanges in North Vernon with Sister Williams. Oh my gosh we had so much fun. It was great to be with someone who feels the same way that I do about missionary work. Sister Williams is from Bountiful and she has been out for about 6 months. She is a hoot and we just had a blast. It is always fun going to another area for a day and just a breath of fresh air. It did feel so good to come back to my area though, I love it so very much. The ward and the those that we are working with, I just know without a doubt that the Lord needed me in Bloomington.

Transfer calls are next Monday, so I'm getting a little anxious about that because I don't want leave. Sister Freer and I have had some great times together and I'm grateful that we got to serve for two transfers together. We have been working with a less active, Emily and her son, Jayden and they have been struggling for a long time. Emily is finally coming to church consistently and Jayden has been sitting in our lessons now. It has been a blessing from Heavenly Father to see the change in them. I was so happy yesterday in our lesson, because we got Jayden a children's Book of Mormon and he is excited to read from the Book of Mormon now and Emily has decided she wants to go to the gospel doctrine since they are learning about the Book of Mormon. They are excited about the gospel and it's wonderful. The gospel is true and living it truly does make one happy. It's so great!!!! I love it. Jayden said the prayer at the end of our lesson and it was the sweetest prayer and Emily got a little emotional. I can tell how much their relationship has changed because they are doing the small and simple things together.

We have been working with this cute little family that I adore. The dad is a member but hasn't been active for 15 years and so his wife and children aren't members. The dad, Uriah, came to church and wants this for his family. Last week we taught them the Plan of Salvation and Heather really wants her family to be eternal. We have been trying to think of ideas to get Tate, the four year old, more involved, because he is so hyper, adorable, but hyper. We brought a bunch of pictures for him to color but that worked for 2 minutes and then he wanted me to finish coloring for him:) They are a cute family! Things our going well for us though. Michaela and Phillip are still doing good and working towards their baptism dates, Feb. 11 and Mar. 17. It got super duper cold last week and snowed, but now it's nice again, gloomy but still the snow is melting and it's supposed to be nice this week, so that was good to hear. I haven't had to break out my 5 layers of leggings yet....
Love,
Sister Lamb

Dear Family,

 

We had a lesson with Sam last Tuesday and as I was racking my brain all day Monday and Tuesday morning, the Lord really helped me with a lesson for him that evening. In my personal study, I couldn't stop thinking about him and I was just pleading that the Spirit could help me and I knew that it would. I was directed towards the story of the Anti-Nephi-Lehis and felt pretty good about the story and that Sam could relate. I then thought of Alma the younger, and his beautiful account of the Atonement in his life. As I was reading I really felt the reality of the Atonement and that Sam needs to believe Christ. A song that is very dear to my heart and has given me a very spiritual experience, Nearer My God to Thee, came to my mind. We were able to get it in an instrumental format and when we went to Sam's we played it in the background while we each read the verses of Alma to ourselves. The spirit was there and I know we all felt it. It was very special and I will remember those feelings that I felt in that moment. I love Sam so very much and I worry about him often, as well as some other investigators we are working with. It kind of weighed me down yesterday because some of them were not at church yesterday and I just worry so much about how they are and what we can do. I know things will come with Sam, and that he has to make the decision to believe Christ. Hopefully as we help him build a testimony we can help feel the love of Heavenly Father. I just want this for him so much and I know Heavenly Father does too. When he told us the things that are holding him back I just cried because I couldn't imagine experiencing what he did.  I know the Lord is going to help us.

 

Michaela is doing wonderful.    We had her come to a baptism in the University ward and afterwards she met with us.  We invited her a few days earlier to come and she wasn't sure if she could.  On Saturday, the weather was wonderful and Sister Freer and I were walking out and about and we received a text from her saying she can come.  The baptism started in 20 minutes and so we booked it to our car and of course once we started driving we hit every red light.  We finally made it and she loved the baptism and the only way she could describe it was awesome:)  She brought her little brother with her and while we were waiting for the two kids who got baptized to change, we were all sitting in the chapel and her little brother started playing with his tooth that was loose.  All the sudden he starts bleeding a lot and so we walked out and he yanked out his tooth and oh my goodness, I kept running into the bathroom to get wads of tissue.  It was a lovely adventure!   She wants this for herself and is willing to do what it takes to continue to have the joy that she has been feeling. When we met with her a few weeks ago, the date February 11 kept coming to my mind, and so when we met with her on Saturday, we committed her to baptism on that date. She accepted it and she is understanding what the spirit feels like. I'm continually so proud of her and where she is going, it's been surreal to be a part of it. It's definitely a tender mercy that our church time is in the morning now because she can stay for all of church and now go to Young Womens. The Young Women leaders have been amazing with her and she is building support in the ward. Last week she wasn't able to come to our ward so she went to the later time in Clear Creek, and she told us that she was glad she went but it didn't feel the same, she is feeling more comfortable with the members in the ward.

 

The weather is still beautiful as ever and I'm loving it!!!!!  We were tracting the other day and we started talking to this really nice guy.  He told us that he was pretty familiar with our church but was open to hearing us out.  Before we even talked about the Book of Mormon, he told us that his wife is native american and that they believe that Jesus Christ came to visit the Americas.  Sister Freer and I got so excited and told him about the Book of Mormon and how it is a record of that story.  He didn't want to read it but he was really nice about it.  It was such a cool experience to hear him talk about that.  His wife had heard stories growing up about that and it's just so great to know that Book of Mormon testifies of that truth.  We are so blessed.  We used part of the account of Jesus Christ coming to the Americas in a lesson with a less active family yesterday.  We turned out all the lights and talked about how before He came the people were in darkness for three days and then they heard the voice of the Savior.  We read those verses of Christ talking as it was dark and it was really comforting to hear those words from our Savior in darkness.  It was a great lesson and helped us all continue to focus on the Savior and know that He is always asking us to come unto him. 

 

We have a great week planned, we have interviews with President and Sister Collins and I'm going on exchanges to North Vernon, so lots of fun things ahead.  Transfers are on January 25, and ugh I'm not looking forward to that.  I love this area but the people have become like family and I love them so much!!!!!  Sister Freer and I are pretty sure that one of us will be leaving so it will be hard but the Lord is in it. 

 

Love,

Sister Lamb     

Dear Family,

Happy New Year!!!!!!  Well we finally have our snow with a heavy dose of wind chill...blahhhh!  It snowed a few days after Christmas and it snowed again today and the wind is awful:(  It's been kind of a slow week, just with the holidays there weren't a lot of people home and so I know this week will be good though.  Heavenly Father is definitely blessing me with memorization skills.  President Collins has asked all of the missionaries to memorize a scripture once a week and we get a specific one each week, so that' been a good challenge.   

Ugh, we had to drop Jim and that just broke my heart. I try not to take it hard but that is very hard for me because I really grew to love him and I had a lot of hope that he would change. Maybe too much hope. He just doesn't believe it's true. I know we did all we could for him but his heart just wasn't completly open, even though I felt as if he did have a true desire but I guess he just isn't ready now. He will accept it one day and I know he won't forget the countless times Sister Freer and I bore testimony. He's a good guy and I have loved teaching him and I will continue to hope for him.

We set our district baptism goal for January and for Highland we are going to strive to set two baptismal dates. We have set one with Phillip for March 17, he is working towards that but it is still a struggle to get him to church because of his work schedule.    We are going to also work on setting a date with Michaela. She is a doll and is very self-motivated. Yesterday she didn't make to our ward and so she went to the other ward and we were so impressed with her determination to go to church because she knows it's important. I love her so much! 
 

Yesterday, Sister Freer and I taught the gospel principles class and it was on temple work and family history.  It was really neat to hear of experiences that people have had as they have done temple work for their family!  I was just in awe the whole time.  Dixie shared some cool experiences she had doing work for her family as well as Sam's family (he is the vietnam vet) and it got me excited to do work for our family and how crucial it is for us to do.  We went over to the family history center to get familar with it so we can use it to help investigators, and I went and looked at our family names and it is something that I want to do more of. 

Love,

Sister Lamb