October 27th, 2014

Dear All,

We stopped by a less active on Monday and caught her home for the
first time in weeks. We talked with catching up a bit then we asked
her about the previous invitation we extended to pray every day. She
had not done so for quite a while. We also asked her if she still had
the desire to not fall into her drinking habits after her probation.
She expressed to us she didn't want to fall into the habit again but
she feared she would be worse then before. We listened and then bore
our testimonies of the strength beyond our own that comes into our
lives when we pray and we promised her IF she TRUELY wanted to not
fall into that habit again she needs to pray every day. Only through
God's power working in her life through simple acts of faith would she
be able to head in the direction she wants to go. She accepted our
invitation and we left her with a prayer. In her eyes we could see she
knew it would be hard but there was greater hope then before "that if
[she] did not doubt, God would deliver."( Alma 56:47) I know that God
is the source of our greatest and most lasting hope. We have only to
trust him and he will "direct our paths."( Proverbs 3:5)

We saw many miracles but unfortunately my IPad keeps freezing and I
don't have enough time to write everything I want to. Miracles from
stopping to serve others, being able to understand by the Spirit the
needs of others and seeing the effect the Spirit is having on others,
and my own life! God is good! And He loves us!

Sister Sarah Meldrom

October 20th, 2014

Last Sunday we spoke in the Edgemont 6th ward and later that evening
we had a Sister from that ward call us and tell us she wanted to
starting meeting with us. On Monday we had our first appointment with
her and mainly focused on her needs and what she wants to try to
achieve. She is working towards being worthy to go to the temple but
can't seem to shake her habit of smoking. She told us that she thinks
it is a stress habit and how she use to drink out of stress. She told
us many concerns and we responded best we could. We gave her some
suggestions to help her quit and also challenged her to set a goal for
herself of a specific day in which she will be completely done. We
could tell from this meeting her desire is sincere and also how
difficult it will be for her but we know, and she also agreed, that
through Christ anything is possible. I am grateful for the opportunity
we had to speak in her ward so she could feel the spirit and get
acquainted with us a bit so that she was comfortable calling us. What
a blessing it is to help her reach her goal of the temple.

This week we met with two former investigators ( nonmembers of the
church who were taught before but the lessons discontinued for various
reasons) both of whom are wonderful daughters of God.

The first was on Tuesday. Her name is Sister Evens, she is in her 70s
and lives currently with her son in law and grandsons. She is going
through chemotherapy and often rests most of the day. She isn't in a
state to be able to go to church often but we did invite her to the
Primary Program her Ward is having. She said she would enjoy that. She
also expressed the desire to keep learning about the church. We
assured her we would do the best we could. We hope that through this
next round of chemo, going for 5 more months, she will be cancer free
and able to do more of the things she enjoys!

The second lady is Sister Jensen. We briefly met her a week ago
and decided to stop by on Thursday to understand her religious
background and desires better. We asked some questions like 

What is your belief of God? and How does your belief help you?

and she responded politely. At one point she paused our
conversation and told us she 'knew what we were doing' and that she is
not a 'baptismal candidate.' We assured her that we genuinely wanted
to learn more about her and her beliefs and weren't visiting with her
only because we invite others to be baptized. We expressed our love
for her, as our sister, and bore our testimonies of God. She is very
respectful of our beliefs, though our understanding of who God is is
different. We left after our conversation with a deep respect for this
sister and we were honored that she seemed to have connected with us
as well. She bid us travel safely and seemed touch as we left with,
"We love you". I know that God's love transcends any boundaries.

Sister Inman received her IPad this pat week which was a GREAT
blessing! Now we can send out twice as many emails and such. I never
have appreciated the use of each of us to an IPad than these past
couple weeks! They are truly a great tool in the efforts we make.

I personally want to be better about talking to everyone that I am
permitted to see. It is a difficult, but I know not impossible, thing
for me to do. All kinds of excuses come to mind when I see people. 

'Oh they don't want to be bothered', ' They are justing getting into their
car/ house' ...etc. I am praying as fervently as I can that I can look
back on this time in my mission and say that I did my best in talking
to everyone. I need to remember the peace I have felt from my
testimony of Christ and remind myself that everyone is worth pushing
past fears for. I hope I can utilize the enabling power of the
Atonement and be equal to this task with His help. :}

Time passes to swiftly! I haven't been able to tell you about even
half of the wonderful things God is allowing me to experience. And
these miracles are NOT limited to Provo Utah but to every place. An
invitation to a dinner, Family Home Evening, activity, service or trip
CAN make all the difference in someone's life. They may decline but at
least they know you care, right? So as I try to overcome my fear of
talking to people and inviting them to Christ, I challenge you to over
come your anxieties about inviting your friends, family and
acquaintances  to experience your love and ultimately, God's love, through
you!
God is good,


Sister Sarah Meldrom

October 13th, 2014

Dear All,

On Saturday we decided to walk around in the area that two of our wards cover and talk to people. We also asked the Ward Mission Leaders in those wards for anyone who has been on their mind that we could visit. It was these people we headed towards to visit but we stopped and talked to anyone in between as well. The result was meeting many members who are struggling in their own individual ways. We were able to bring to each of them our individual testimony of Jesus Christ. 
One Sister in particular stands out in my mind. When we tried the Nelson's the first time they weren't home. So we came back by later and Sister Nelson answered the door. We shared a scripture and bore our testimony of the Savior and told her we are seeking to strengthen everyone we can. She thanked us and told us she hasn't been active for years. We told her we were sharing our message and seeking to help build EVERYONE's testimony. She nodded and acted as to say farewell but we asked if we could pray first. We did and at the end she was silently crying. She stepped outside and started talking to us, thanking us for coming when she was in need. She told us how she was grieving over wayward children and how she didn't go to church because she couldn't handle the questions about how her children were doing. We listened and sympathized and encouraged her to slowly work back, one meeting, and day at a time. She agreed that she wanted to try. We gave her a hug and our phone number and told her if she needed anything we would try our best to help. We plan to let her know when we are going to her ward so we can sit with her and support her.

I am absolutely impressed with my new companion, Sister Inman. She is such a support to our area and teaches me. We have a special training program, nicknamed 12 Week (because it is 12 weeks worth of training), right now we are studying to help learn the how, why and what of missionary work. She just blows me away with her understanding and the way she expresses the doctrines of God's kingdom simply. I am constantly trying to be sensitive to any challenges she may be facing, remembering the difficulties I had when I was new, but she constantly has a smile and tells me she is alright. It causes me to marvel why I was such a blubbery new missionary :P

We helped a Sister this week pick up walnuts in her yard from her walnut tree and remove the green pod around the walnut shells. I never knew there was two layers you have to go through to get a walnut! It made we appreciate the hard work that goes into having walnuts in anything we eat!

On Wednesday, as a result from a cough I have developed, I lost my voice (or at least couldn't speak very loud) all of that day. It was frustrating but we managed through. I believe it was a blessing to Sister Inman because she had to do a lot more talking and she did wonderfully! CONFIDENCE BUILDER :)

We had ZTM this past Thursday. It was one of the best I have been to. I felt uplifted and ready to do better! The ideas and goals that we set I know will help us in our areas!

I have neglected to mention for quite a while that I am still going strong with my 'Hymn a day until my mission ends' study :) Today I read number 185,Reverently and Meekly Now . This has developed into one of my favorites. I love how it is written so that it is as Christ addressing us, pleading with us to use His Atonement and keep His commandments. 
What a wonderful, glorious gift that was given to us! How have YOU used Christ's Atonement today?

God is good,

Sister Sarah Meldrom