December 16th, 2013

Dear All,

  It has been a roller coaster of a week but through God's love shown through my companion and others, I ended my week leveled out and happy.  I was stressed about driving, being in charge of the area, not being able to do 'this' or not being able to do 'that'. Thursday and Friday were the rough days. I got a blessing on Friday after DTM and talked and cried and talked and cried to Sister Christiansen. I am grateful to her. She lovingly threatened to call the Sister Training Leaders if I didn't get better. I know she loves me, just as Christ loves me. I also went through "the Adjusting to Missionary Life" and determined that in order to manage the stress I felt I was going to: 1. Pray fervently, alone and with my companion 2. Sing 3. Recognize God's hand 4. Make sure I exercise every morning that is appropriate and 5.Befriend my companion. I focused on these 5 simple things and they helped immensely!

Sister Christiansen is from Los Angeles area California. She is 20, been out for 9 months, loves horses, and has two of her own, and likes the smell of pines/Christmas tree like me :D

  Our weekly planning was a bit crazy because we have done it a bit differently from one another and we didn't find quite a balance between both of our ideas. I am one to nod my head at suggestions but wonder if what I have done should still be implemented. Every third Sunday we meet with the Stake President or one of his counselors and yesterday 1st Counselor Ipson told me to not forget what I have done because it has been doing well. I have concluded that the best way to sift through what I have to offer, and what Sister Christiansen has to offer, is to bring up my thoughts and to ask the why behind her thoughts so I understand. It seems at time she was annoyed by my lack of understanding but I tried to humbly give her the benefit of the doubt. After all, I told myself, she is in a new area, new companion and such and may feel a stressed as well. She told me though the other day that she doesn't mean to sound that way and I believe her. She is awesome! We are both morphing to each other so we can be unified. Sister Christiansen has gone through a lot and I am grateful that we are companions. She has taught me things that I needed to learn from the very second we were companions.

  One other thing that helped this week was a prompting from the Spirit when listening to a talk at church yesterday. It was about hope. I realized I had lost hope for a bit, but through God, was gaining it back. I wrote down my hopes and recommitted myself to focus. 

Sister Christiansen is going to help me recognize the Spirit better by this route this week: After every lesson she will tell me when she felt the Spirit when I was talking and I will tell her when I felt the Spirit when she was talking. It has worked well so far!

We also have had a lot of laughs like when we  rushed out to the hall because my Ipad glitched up and started playing a hymn in the middle of sacrament and wouldn't stop! :) 

I am grateful for the hope that we have through Christ. I am grateful that I am happy and ready to be better and work better this week. I could go on forever, I know my Redeemer lives,

Sister Sarah Meldrom

December 9th, 2013

Dear All,
It has been a wonderful week. Busy, sad at times, but Sister Hedley didn't let me mope :) The wisest thing she said to me is that my mother won't always be there to celebrate my birthday and take me out to lunch as she has almost always did. It was that tough love that caused me to cry a bit more then move on. It was hard and I think I need to pray from now until Christmas that I can handle Christmas a little better. But I agree with what my mother said before I left, "This is the best way for you to leave the house for the first time. God will support you when you are sad, and He has through other people. I like to be busy in this work, it causes me to focus outward a lot better :)

My Birthday was good. I went to the temple and did a session(service) and then the Vernal Sisters and Sister Hedley surprised me to ice cream. We had dinner at a members home and she made chicken enchiladas and we had chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting and MOOSE TRACKS! No one liked the moose tracks besides me so I have nearly a whole quart to myself :P They also gave me a missionary journal and a 2 dollar bill :P I got my b-day packages from my family and from my Aunt Michelle. I loved them! I also got a b-day package from my Aunt Rachel back in November and realized it was for my b-day after I opened it :P  Plenty of chocolate and cupcakes(Michelle :D) STAMPS, cards, b-day party stuff, subway gift card to just name a few things :) Thank you for making it wonderful all of you!  

We had several last new member discussions this week. No one wants to see us go but they know we have other people to help. I am grateful I have been able to see and feel their newly developed testimony and it has strengthened mine.

I am working on praying with more gratitude. But more specifically. I have my planner from the MTC that I have decided to write the needs of others as I hear them so that I do not forget what they need my help with. One new investigator this week told us she made a promise at the request of her dying husband that she would remain in the Church of Christ and keep their grown children in it as well. She was very emotional when she told us. She wants to obey his wishes out of respect and love. We encouraged her to ponder and pray and God will lead her in the right direction because He knows her. I wrote this down so I could remember her in my prayers. She also has had trouble with her eyes and I have grown in appreciation that we have the Book of Mormon on CD so even .." the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness." Isaiah 29:18 We plan on giving her the CD our next meeting.

I was looking at my emails and it looks like Sister Hedley is being transferred :( Like I said in my last email, she has been a good friend and trainer. I am a bit anxious about what I do now but I have faith that Christ will not give me anything I can't handle with Him.

Happy Transfers! May God bless and keep you, 
Sister Meldrom

December 1st, 2013

Dear All,

It has been a good week despite the slow down from the Holidays and almost everyone to busy to meet with us. 

I am having a bit of a struggle overcoming the natural man of thinking of myself these past couple of days. I try not to think about myself and focus on the people we are teaching but I leave almost every lesson lately feeling like I didn't do very well and I mentally beat myself up. Perhaps I should just ignore such feelings because I am trying to be well prepared and to follow the Spirit but I always wonder if I have done enough to prepare or am I good enough to have the companionship of the Holy Ghost. All of that is just thinking of myself but how do I make sure I am doing all I can. I worry about this constantly. 'Have I done my part?' 'What can I do better?' I know Jesus Christ will help me figure it out but for now I am on a roller coaster of trying to fight against feeling of being unprepared and to stop thinking of myself. Is the cure to this fluctuation of feelings just losing myself? Probably. I just make it so much more complicated then it needs to be.

 Every day there are miracles.One of the attributes of Christ in Preach My Gospel is, 'I have enough faith in Christ to accomplish anything He wants me to do- even miracles if necessary.'  I have added this to my list of Christlike attributes to work on. It seems a bit bold to me to expect miracles but even when I don't expect miracles they still happen. Every person we teach is a miracle, every member is a miracle and the ability to do the work that we all do to contribute to the Lord's kingdom is a miracle. How amazing that we have God's help behind our work. We could never do it without Him.

 

Transfers are next week - ALREADY! I am excited but also sad because there is only a 20% possibility Sister Hedley and I will remain together. Sister Hedley has been a wonderful trainer and friend to me. I will be sad to part with her one of these days. God knows exactly who we need, when we need them and what they will teach us. Sister Hedley has got me off to a great start as a missionary, been patient, counseled and love me. With the Lord as both of our guides we have learned to work together and got along well. I am forever grateful for her and to God for allowing me to work right beside her.

We helped with a charity on Wednesday, "Trees for Charity", where you decorate a Christmas tree according to a theme and for a certain cause of the decorators choice. The Sister we helped did a Cowboy Christmas theme and did it for a girl with mental disabilities. So today they auction off the trees and give the money and sometimes the buyer give the tree to the family/cause.

We ended up with 5 Thanksgiving appointments! Needless to say we ate light at each place and still ended up stuffed. Sister Hedley isn't a pie fan so I think she had a lot less dessert then me. :P I couldn't resist the apple, cherry and pumpkin pie. 

Happy December,

Sister Meldrom

November 24th, 2013

Dear All,

This week has flown by and it causes me to wonder if I have done all I could. I feel myself falling more naturally into missionary work and I am not so anxious before every lesson. I hope though that I am not relying on myself but on God. I know it would be a sad use of the Lord's time, that He has given me, if I have to be continually humbled. I haven't found my balance in this yet. It causes me to second guess all my thoughts and actions because I am so worried about just relying on the arm of flesh. The greatest struggle I have every day is with myself. "Am I doing all I can be doing?" "Why don't I understand this better?" "Am I doing well enough?" But I believe God is slowly coaching me on something that you probably see. I am thinking too much of myself. 

So this leads me to the other thing I have pondered on this week. I believe God gives us experiences as missionaries, and even before, so that we can relate and help those we teach. I hope I am getting this right, 'that by helping others I am helping myself to learn'. I am going through Chapter 6 of Preach My Gospel and I do set goals (which could always use improvement) but agonizing over it doesn't help. I am working on using the Vision, Goal, Plan, Implement and Evaluate system more into my goals so I not only have the 'What I am doing' but 'Why I am doing it'. I really like how in Zone Conference I was reminded that the Why I am here is the people, and that the keys of missionary work are with the Stake and Wards and the church members. Also that our authority as missionaries is in the teaching. I don't know why I like this so much but it has filled me with a sense of direction and hope in myself and an increase of recognizing the Spirit. Small and simple means.

We had the privilege of two of our investigators getting baptized and we have received three new investigators this week. Members have told my companion and I 'good work', but this really is much like in marriage, a three way partnership. God, members and missionaries. Whenever someone is baptized most people just see the missionaries as the primary source of the event but really all children of God that come back to God have to have the relationship with all three. I have no cause to be EVER ungrateful because God blesses me so abundantly. All glory goes to God.

I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Sister Meldrom

November 17th, 2013

Hello All,

  This past week we have had the privilege to be at the forefront of a excommunicated member coming back. Excommunication is where the members records are removed from the church till they are ready to come back. It is a state of mercy because then they aren't held to the promises that come with being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It all started with a referral from a church member and a lesson with some ward members who ended up being this man and his wife's friends. The first appointment they were "yeah we want to come back" with a slight hesitation but the second appointment was a spiritual and amazing change. They know they want to return. They are ready. They know it will be a difficult road but they are ready. How glorious is our God! They came to church yesterday and he is setting a time to meet with the Stake president. 

  There was also, at church, a couple we have been trying to get a hold of but we haven't had any success. They want to come back too, so we shall visit them. The Lord is blessing this ward, that these less active members live in. He knows it is time for these sheep to come back and the members are helping them. Soon there will be two baptisms in this ward. God is blessing this ward because they are working diligently to find, retain and reactivate.

  As part of the 12 Week training, my responsibility and privilege this week was to "invite to baptism". We had two wonderful women that we taught for the first time this week. After our lessons, I had the privilege to invite them to baptism. Both sisters are going to pray and ponder about baptism. I could see that, if they were willing, God had prepared them to accept the gospel at this time. 

  We also had an appointment with an investigator we haven't seen in a while because of her work schedule. I was able to invite her to baptism as well. She is going to pray about it. I am grateful that God knew I would need these experiences this week. 

  One of my favorite things that I have experienced is feeling the Spirit as people share their stories. God has prepared all whom we run into to accept our help, whether it is to enter the waters of baptism or to continue on their journey toward Christ. What a blessing it is to be at the front of the Lord's holy army. What a serious responsibility. I pray every day I can be better then yesterday. I pray every day that I may have His Spirit. I know I am nothing and I am left to the natural man without Christ. The success I have is not my own, but my Redeemers.

I am humbled that God loves me so much. When I cry unto Him, He hears me. He pours His blessings upon me and I marvel. I wish I was stronger so I could show Him, by being excellent, how appreciative I am. Yet, I fear,I lose faith, and I become intimidated. The solution isn't to focus on myself but to focus on Him and to remember my favorite Book of Mormon scripture Ether 12:27, our weaknesses can become strengths if we are humble and have faith in Jesus Christ. I know we can be instruments in God's hands BECAUSE of our weaknesses. God knows exactly who can benefit from your unique experiences. I have been told over and over again since starting my mission: 'Be yourself'. God doesn't need the learned and perfect preacher, but He needs the humble and sincere teacher and doer of His words. By small and simple means are great things brought to pass.

God bless and keep you, 

Sister Meldrom

November 11th, 2013

Dear All,

Every week I see an out pouring of blessings. I wonder how I can be so blessed. I hope to always remain humble so I can be close to the Savior and receive His help because I need it.

One of the blessing this week was accidentally going to the wrong house for a 'go see this person' referral. We ended up finding this dear less active sister and her non member husband. I know God led us to them because they are open to us coming and sharing the gospel with them. The husband is angry with God for allowing his son to die some years ago and asks difficult questions but we see the kind child of God and we want to help.

We had the privilege to go to the Adult and General Session of Stake Conference and it was all SO GOOD. Among the many things that inspired me, I loved the emphasis on simplicity. Our Stake President told the conversion story of a old gentleman that simply began with a plate of cookies from a neighbor and a teenage young man taking out his trash every week. The neighbors then invited him to a Ward BBQ and it progressed from there. How wonderful that God has need of all of us, that we may learn and be blessed and our brothers with us. I liked how one speaker in the Adult Session emphasized that it is a lot less intimating for a Primary teacher to invite and visit a 'lost sheep' then the bishop, Stake President and sometimes even the missionaries.I plan on improving my messages to encourage and help members in their efforts.

One more thing I really enjoyed was what the Stake President said in the Adult and General Session, "Every missionary is called at a specific time, to a specific geographical location, for a specific purpose. Every member is likewise called at a specific time, to a specific place for a specific purpose.' God knows where, when and how He needs us, we just need to ask in faith and act. We are where we are to help those around us. As a song says, "I hear it said that people come into our lives for a reason, bringing something we must learn and in turn we can teach them something in return." Think simple and loving and you won't go astray.

We had the privilege to attend the ordination of one of our recent converts and one of our reactivated Brothers receive the Melchizedek Priesthood on Sunday. Both were emotional and you could see the hope they realized. They have the sacred opportunity to bless others lives, just as Christ did.I know that the Priesthood is Gods power given to man for the benefit and blessing of His children. 

They are one more step closer to the temple.

I feel filled as I finish this email to you. I see God supporting and helping me. So,through Him, I can support and help others. The members are a blessing. The investigators, recent converts and less active are huge blessings. My companion has become one of my best friends. I appreciate your prayers and encouragement. I plan on showing my thanks through my work and focus, as I should now and always on God's children.

"Because God is God of Heaven and Earth, how can I keep from singing?" 

God bless and keep you,

Sister Meldrom

Vernal Temple

Sister Hedley and Sister Meldrom in front of the Vernal, Utah Temple

October 27th, 2013

Hello All,
It has been an awesome week! 

Sister Hedley and I have been able to meet people by means we would never have thought. We had a loaf of bread that needed to be returned to Walmart and ended up meeting a couple, he is less active and she is a non member, who both wanted to return back to God. We were able to meet with them once, then they were off to Colorado where they were moving. We hope they seek out the missionaries because they are awesome. 

Also we have seen investigators that haven't progressed at all, soften and commit to pray and read. I know these are God's blessing toward us and it is a sacred trust He has given us. A little while back I wrote in the front of my planner: "This is what I have done with thy vineyard this day, Lord." It is a reminder every day that I have one to report to to whom owns and over sees all of His children. He knows each of them perfectly. We are his tender plants that He sees as one day giant oaks. He prunes, digs about and waters us. I am grateful it is to Him I can rely and trust.

One of the wonderful things I have seen this week is how our visits and lesson change those to whom we focus, sometimes dramatically but most of the time in perceptively. One investigator for the whole time I have been here has said every lesson, "In my own time, not right now" when we ask him to read the Book of Mormon and pray. Yesterday we asked ourselves before his lesson, what can we do? All of our lessons end up pretty much the same way. 

We knocked on his door expecting to either read with him or to go over the Family Proclamation. Instead we listened to the difficult week he has had and that he desires to become a better father for his children. We showed "Earthly Father, Heavenly Father" and related it to him. He understood and at the end we invited him to read and pray and he excepted humbly. 

Sometimes we don't need to say anything, just listen. We had a less active family we visited later that day that have had a rough weekend. They struggle financially and had to take another loan out to pay for essentials. They want to be debt free before they pay their tithing. They know they should but it is just getting to that point that we are gently urging them towards. Again, we listened, showed a Mormon message and left them with a prayer and a challenge to pray and read as a family. We want to visit them once a day this week.
God shows His marvelous hand in simple ways. Oh how I love my Savior! Oh how I love my companion, district and you, my friends and family, God loves you, don't let Satan convince you otherwise.
Sister Meldrom

October 21st, 2013

Hello All,

The combination of Sunday and Monday always perk me up and I am ready for another week of losing myself to the work.

I want to take a moment and tell you how inspired the Preach My Gospel (missionary handbook and lessons), the 12 week Program( a system of learning for new missionaries and their trainer companions that breaks it down into weeks were you accomplish certain things in the week) and a new manual called Adjusting to Missionary Life (a book that goes through different solutions to emotional ,spiritual, mental or physical challenges we face as missionaries).From reading and working on week 5 of the 12 Week Program I feel the Spirit of God guiding me more. I trust God to guide me after all I can do. This guidance has come as words to speak, feelings of calm or peace, questions that cause those I speak to, to pause and reflect. All together whatever is good I attribute to God speaking to me through His Spirit (see Galatians 5:22-23) 

This week we have met and contacted some people that I have seen God preparing to except His truths whether right now or in the future. I have learned that you are either THE missionary that will help them realize this is God path for them or you will be a missionary to plant seeds of truth that one day they will recognize and find the true path. These people have relate how they have gone through a rough time and they have been able to make it out, somehow they say because they know they couldn't have got out by their own power. Some know it was God, some don't know what helped them out but they know God loves them. 

I ask you to ponder- Do you believe God loves you? Why is it important to believe God loves you? Because God loves you what are you doing to show your love to Him? In John 14:15 Christ says: If ye love me, keep my commandments. I suggest you review God's commands and re-energize yourself to more fully keep them. 

I feel inadequate to relate my tender feelings for you. I am anxious to my God that he will bless you. I have seen miracles.I know God directs Sister Hedley and I. One example: The other night we had no appointments. We prayed to God to be guided to someone that need God and His word. After a couple of failed knocking attempts we sat again in our truck. "Let's go help Sister so and so clean up for the night" (she owns a small pizza house nearby). Sister Hedley agreed. So we go and tackle her dishes while she finishes up with customers. She talks to us as she begins to help clean and tells us of the trials and some of the blessing she has received this week. At the end when we are done she gives us her usual 'Thank you' pizzas and says, "I am glad you came, I needed someone to talk to." God answered her unspoken prayers and answered our spoken plea to help someone. 

God does not cease to be a God of miracles. Miracles come to pass because of actions of faith in Jesus Christ.Why would God work in miracles? Because he loves all of us. Miracles are not moving a physical mountain or displaying a pillar of fire but the simple, small things. How many people can we bless if we just stop and pray for someone to help? What are we afraid of when we don't ask? Who are we thinking of when we don't ask? We should ask and expect that God will use us for His purposes. Are we willing to listen when He speaks?

We had a baptism of an investigator on Saturday. Sister Hedley and I had the opportunity to share the First Vision of Joesph Smith and our testimony of the Restored Gospel. It was a wonderful meeting before God, and I felt the Spirit through the whole thing. If you don't know about the first vision, read (http://www.lds.org/scriptures/pgp/js-h/1?lang=eng) or watch it. (http://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2008-06-01-the-restoration?category=feature-films). If you do know the First Vision, review and let the Spirit spark within you a feeling of love and service as you review. 

God bless you and keep you, till next week,

Sister Meldrom

October 14th, 2013

Hello All!

This has been a busy week! We had a Zone Conference and received our Ipads on Tuesday morning; Zone Training Meeting on Thursday morning; Distcict Training Meeting on Friday morning and Sister Hedley and I were on exchanges with the Sister Training Leader on Tuesday and Thursday! Also we had a baptism Saturday morning and of course the weekly coordination meetings with the ward mission leaders Sunday morning.The only study time my companion and I had together this week was Monday!

Our mission President read 1 Nephi 17, about Nephi receiving the tools he needed to build a ship. We likewise have received Ipads to use as tools to further God's work upon the earth. The Ipads have a special missionary app that allows us to only access certain LDS websites so we remain safe and focused. It has an Area Book app that Sister Hedley and I are slowly working on getting ALL of our records converted into digital. Our Ipads sync, so what we do on one goes to the other. It also hooks up with the LDS church directories so we can more fully coordinate with the members by having their phone numbers and addresses at a press of a finger. The Ipad I was given will go with me my whole mission. When I go to a new area, I only have to sync to my companions and I have all that she has. 

If you have any questions ask away. God is hastening the work!

Love,

Sister Meldrom

October 7th, 2013

Hello All, 

How was General Conference? What was your favorite talk or what impressed you the most?

I was impressed with the thought that I need to be more committed, build and maintain my spiritual stamina for the challenges ahead and forget myself much more.

Things are moving along much the same as they have been. We have about 20 investigators, 4 less active families and 7 recent converts we are working with currently. I have been seeing miracles as stubborn investigators keep commitments and less actives open up to us so that we can learn how we, as representative of Jesus Christ, can more fully help these children of God come back to Him. 

My email is short, I don't know what else to include. 

God has blessed us, as my companion and I prayed for new investigators this week. Members have given us names and the names turn into those we add to our list of those whom to help. If you think I am glorifying in numbers, I am not. The worth of souls is great in the sight of God and we show our recognition of this truth by treating our referrals and our contact sacredly and prayerfully. 

You as members of the church can do this also. You don't have to be a full time missionary. Talk to your neighbors. Pray for charity and the Spirit, for if you truly seek to share the gospel BECAUSE you love your neighbors, and as you prepare, your efforts are never wasted. You may not see them wish to take discussions or return back to church but do not be discouraged. Be diligent, patient and loving and you will not be disappointed.

Keep up the good work! Work with your local missionaries as you see they are diligent and committed to their work. They will appreciate your help. Invite them to teach your friends in your home and don't be afraid to share your testimony! Help the work move along, prepare for the coming of Christ.

I love this work. It makes so much more sense to me as I have tried and learned from mistakes. I have realized I have treated this work to lightly before. I have room for repentance. I am grateful for my Savior who is the reason and the help behind our work.

Love and exhortation, 

Sister Meldrom

The District

Vernal, Utah

Sister Neilson, Sister John, Sister Meldrom, Sister Hedley
Elder Neilsen, Elder Bennett, Elder Kartchner, and Elder Page

September 30th, 2013

A note from me: Sister Meldrom's Mom =)

Because of several requests, I asked Sarah if it would be ok to share her email address. She gave me the ok with the understanding that she may not have a lot of time to respond and if she could respond, it would probably be short. 

I know, as her mother, that she will feel stressed if she feels she can't give everyone the special attention she would like. I am sure she would love to read your encouraging words and they are greatly appreciated. But please keep in mind that she has a short amount of time to read and then send emails out. You can find her email address below my comment.

sarah.meldrom@myldsmail.net

Hello All! 

It has been another amazing week. I wish you could see all that goes on, but alas it would take forever to tell you. So I will try to cover even the hundredth part.

We are working with about 10 non members, countless less actives and slowly helping the recent converts rely on the ward fellowship. We have a pretty good system of correlation meetings every Sunday morning. The Ward Mission Leaders, or one of their helpers, in some cases, come and hear what we need from them: fellowship for so and so, home teachers, a calling, etc. In return they tell us what they have worked on from the last correlation meeting: like, who they have found to fellowship and who may be able to stop by to possibly help them come closer to Christ. I am grateful for these meetings. I am grateful I get to participate in this work.

Some miracles I have seen: 

1.The 12 week program that our trainers use for training new missionaries for the first 12 weeks out (thus named.) Every week there are points to practice, things to read, and to then apply. Last week I was to lead the Teaching of the Restoration lessons. Also I am to extend baptismal commitments.The principles are stretching me and causing me to improve. I have learned one thing that would be terrible wrong to think is, "I have gained enough or done enough". MY work will never be enough but through Christ it is well. I have gained a testimony that as I desire, obtain, and most importantly 'go and do', I become less fearful and can be guided by the Spirit more fully.

2.Knocking on doors of people we don't know and receiving a return appointment. One such door was where members used to live, so we called it Shayla's house. The lady that answered was kind and welcoming. She desired us to come when her husband would be home so we could teach both of them. We haven't yet been able to catch both of them home yet but she doesn't seemed annoyed by our frequent doorstep visits. So we keep checking in. One note about the area is that there are a ton of oil mine or such workers that have an all day almost everyday schedule. This ladies husband is one such man. We will come at the right time eventually.

We have much to do. If an appointment falls through we have plenty of people to go and stop by to visit. There are people that we can see God has prepared for us, people God is preparing through us or perhaps preparing them for later missionaries.

My faith in Christ has grown. If I am not relying on the Lord, my purpose is void and the words I say are just words. Without Him there would be no success. I am not just talking about baptisms and seeing someone finally become converted but simply just sowing seeds.

Pray for the Spirit. Remember and remind others that God loves them and will answer their prayers.

Till next week

Sincerely, Sister Meldrom

Greetings from Vernal Utah

Hello! Greetings from Vernal Utah! 
There are plenty of rocks and dirt and the only way to have a nice green lawn is to water it a lot :P There are a lot of dinosaur statues around here and Sister Hedley, my companion, pointed out some hills where paleontologist are always digging up new Dino bones. Definitely a dino land.
Where to start?
Let's start with my trainer and awesome companion, Sister Hedley from Toronto, Canada. She is just 3 months younger than me and has been out in the field for 3 months. We have the same middle name and she has the same name as Kate only spelled differently. She is super at teaching and super funny.She says bag like "bog". And in her family, she is the only girl and the youngest of four children.
Vernal, Sister Hedley says, is like the Celestial Kingdom of Utah. I believe it. There are so many prepared and searching nonmembers and less actives. We are currently teaching a mother(Karen about 50 yrs old) and daughter(Kim about 30 yrs old) that Sister Hedley and her former companion Sister Loeta worked with. I committed them to baptism and they are "on date" for Oct 26. Karen wants to gain a testimony of Joesph Smith and was reluctant to set a baptismal date but excepted it after a little bit of gentle coaxing from us and the spirit.
We have packed days on our calendar. There are so many amazing members that go with us to lessons. Sister Hedley and I are over the Vernal Unitah Stake which has 7 wards(Jensen, Davis 1st,2nd,3rd and 4th, Unitah and Ashley Creek). We always have somewhere to eat for dinner and many restaurants around here have free lunch for missionaries. It is such a blessing! I have already been able to use my fanatic family history skills to help a newly baptized member to start on his family history. 
We have so many people we could talk about.... Kyle, who is a wiccan and is only taking the discussions because of a girl. Chad, who calls Jesus 'his man' and has a love for him but won't read the Book of Mormon because he feels he doesn't need to. Erin, who we randomly stopped by at and she brushed us off at first but Sister Hedley and the Spirit some how managed a sit down chat about the gospel and a return appointment. The Prebe Family, who has three girls that are SO strong in the church and are good examples to their less active mother. Everyone is amazing and it just flabbergasts me every time I walk into another wandering child of God's door. God prepared them ALL. 
We have a truck to drive around in because Jensen is 70% dirt roads. Sister Hedley says we are probably the only Sister Missionaries with a truck in the mission :P Ah, also we live in a little side house/apartment on a members property. We get free automated car washes because our land lord owns them. 
A bit about the Mission President: He is awesome. He genuinely cares for all of us and is a pretty laid back guy unless you abuse your privileges. Privileges such as: Our mission is the first to have iPads for each missionary(I don't have one yet but I am not complaining) and we do Facebook. About Facebook: anyone can post gospel related subjects on my wall. I can Skype teach people the first lesson or IM them! Crazy! I haven't done that yet, so I will let you know how that goes. 
More later, 
Sister Sarah Meldrom

Fan-TEXT-tic Dinner in Jensen Utah.

We got a text from someone in Jensen, UT. They had Sarah over for dinner and sent a text saying that it was great to have her and that she is a great girl. This is her Companion/Trainer Sis. Hedley.

MTC District

Sister John, Sister Meldrom, Sister Glancy and Sister Arnett

Elder Carter, Elder Van Duren,  Elder Adamson and Elder Parkin

Licking a Tree?!?

Yes, those are real missionaries and yes, they are really licking a tree. These are Elders from her District when she was at the MTC. When Sister Meldrom sent us the first set of photos we just laughed in confusion as to why Elders were licking a tree. So, we wrote to her about it asking. We finally got a response. She says that the tree smelled like cream soda and they wanted to see if it tasted like it too.

The First Amazing Week

My first week was amazing and jam packed. I have sent a envelope full of letters and such which you should get Tuesday?? My District is amazing! My companion is amazing and the things I am learning-amazing! We are learning tool and techniques such as how to recognize, follow and use the Holy Ghost in teaching. We have 6 to 8 hours of studying: some personal, some companion study and then some as a district and with a teacher. Our teachers are all RM and are very helpful! Sister John is my companion and from day one we have worked, cried and always not found it a burden to stick together. We love and appreciate each other. I love and appreciate you, my family. Please take comfort in that the Lord is carrying me so that my homesickness is barely there. I think of you often. Oh! Please send me a picture of the family so I can show everyone.

Love you ALOT! 

Sister Meldrom

Sister John and Sister Meldrom

Sister Glancy, Sister Arnett, Sister Meldrom and Sister John

Elder Carter, Elder Parkin, Me, Sister John, Elder Adamson, Elder Van Duren, Sister Arnett and Sister Glancy

Provo Utah Mission

The Beginning

Hello all,

My plane trip was good. I got to the MTC early, so I got to eat lunch (others that were on time didn't get lunch :P) I was led around and helped by a host missionary. As we were going around I got a lot of "welcome to the MTC" because all new missionaries get an orange sticker on their missionary badge for the first day. I cried that night but my companion and the two other sisters in my district are amazing, they hugged and comforted me. I got a blessing of comfort the next day and was able to talk to one of the Branch Presidency, Brother Smith. I told him I had had a lot of feelings of unworthiness, so much so, that I was beginning to believe there was a sin in my life that was desecrating the good feelings at the MTC and the spirit was telling me to go home....that sort of thing anyway. I told this to Brother Smith and confessed I had no idea what I might have or be doing wrong to feel so low. He proceeded to tell me that he believed satan did not want me here. Satan was making me question my worthiness and bringing me down. It all made sense to me. Part of my Patriarchal Blessing says that Satan runs rampage, and I can say I know it. Since then though, he has never had such hold on me because I know the source and I look out to serve others. 

The rest of the week has been, study, eat, study as companions and teach our practice investigators, have district classes and sleep.

More later, 

Sister Meldrom

MTC Map

First Day Schedule

Called to Serve

 Dear Sister Meldrom,

You are Hereby Called to Serve as a Missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the Provo Utah Mission. It is anticipated you will serve for a period of 18 months. 

You are asked to report to the Provo MTC on September 4th, 2013.

Mission Area

PROVO UTAH TEMPLE