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