November 17th, 2014

Dear All,

Wednesday as we sat eating lunch we got a phone call from the Mission
Office. I, my companion and 4 other companionship of Sisters had been
chosen to represent our mission in a film! We had the unique
opportunity to act a role in a Temple Open House training video for
Sister Missionaries doing open houses. It will be translated into several
languages and be a guide for sister missionaries all around the world. 

We filmed from 7am to 6pm Thursday and Friday.
We did scenario of good contact with visitors and also some things to
avoid. We also had a question and answer where we answered questions
posed to us from the director of 'How do you prepare spiritually and
physically for a Temple Open House?' 'How does this help you fulfill
your purpose as a missionary?'
I never knew just how much work it is to make a movie! We had a ton of
fun and learned a lot! A copy of the completed video will be sent to

Illinois as soon as it is complete!

Sister Sarah Meldrom

November 10th, 2014

Dear All,

On Tuesday we had a RM (return missionary) Sister shadow us for the day. She works at the
MTC as an instructor to the new missionaries! She
told us she was observing how what they teach in the MTC helps us for
the mission field. I thought this was a perfect match for such an
observance because of my companion who still remembers well everything
she was taught and then there is me- that I am not so fresh ;P She just
observed and contributed to lesson as we asked her to. I saw God
blessing ME because throughout this otherwise somewhat intimidating
experience I was not overly concerned with how our day would go or
how it went. We were also blessed to have one of the most productive
evenings this week! I know that God is aware of those things that
bother us and He shows His love for us by helping us in the best way
possible!

That same day we stopped by a less active YSA named Jon and his three
other brothers apartment.  We hadn't heard much from them recently. Only
Jon and his active Brother Josh were home, the other two were at work.
We visit briefly and shared a scripture and our testimony about the
importance of scripture study and prayer, both acts of faith Jon is
struggling with. We schedule a time to meet again and left with a
prayer. As we walked out and on to our next destination I pondered on
this experience and with wonder recognized how much more open this
young man was to accept our invitation to read and pray. My heart
turned to thanks to God! His influence is working in this young mans
life and WILL change his life for the better if he lets it be so. I
have seen this many times throughout my mission, and I am amazed and
grateful every time! Allowing God into our lives changes our lives! I
know this is true!

We have for some time been trying to have a lesson with this sister
named Amber and her three wonderful daughters, whom we had been told
were not members. This past week we learned where her father and step
mother lived and went over to their home to ask if they knew if
she was even interested. He encouraged us to keep trying and told us
his daughter was a member, just less active. He told us he had talked
to his granddaughters about the missionaries and every Sunday he takes
them to church. They are growing to love going to church and have many
questions. He said it is prime time to set something up with them.
We are excited and still haven't been able to schedule anything
because of their busy schedules but we are not deterred.  From the
brief interactions we have had with Amber's daughters, who are the
ones who always answer the door, we have grown to love them and know
that when the time is right God will help it all work together, as He
always does!

We had a lesson with Arthur, one of our investigators, where we
discussed his reading from the book of Moroni this past week. He told
us he had just skimmed the surface in order to have completed the book
by the time we had our appointment and planned to dive more into it
for further study. We asked him about his impression of it so far. He
told us he has found it all 'scriptural' and nothing he has found goes
against the Bible. We discussed particular verses and the doctrine
from certain chapters he had questions about. We inquired whether he
had prayed about what he read and he said he had but had received no
answer thus far. We asked him about his expectations of an answer and
he described what we had talked about with the spirit being a small
voice, thought or impression and one that gives feelings of peace and
happiness. Through the whole thing we were happy to see he IS
sincerely inquiring and studying. We know he will receive his answer
because he has prepared himself and is pressing forward despite not
receiving an answer yet. He has great faith in Christ and the Bible
and is willing to exercise greater faith in asking God for himself if
the Book of Mormon is TRUELY the word of God. We are privileged to be
able to teach Arthur.

God is good!
Sister Sarah Meldrom

November 3rd, 2014

Dear All,

I have a wonderful companion. She is prepared, has a testimony and teaches to the persons needs. I have no doubts she is going to bless ALL she associates with just as she has blessed me through our companionship.

We received a referral for a nonmember young women, who we were told could possibly be interested in the gospel, two weeks ago but haven't been able to contact her yet. On Saturday we met some RMs (return missionaires) from one of our YSA Wards for lunch and were surprised to learn that all of them knew this young women. They became excited as they concocted together a plan to keep fellow-shipping her through activities and eventually ask her, if she would like, to take the missionary discussion!  This miracle reminded me that there ARE angels preparing the hearts of the children of men to receive the message and most often it is the regular, everyday member missionary that the greatest success and friendships blossom and grow! It also solidifies the fact that we ARE led to where God needs us to be. We need to seek His direction for He knows the best way to approach and love others. After all, He is their Father too! He knows what you need and for those around you too! :)

We were able to receive a new phone, same phone number, this past week and were humored to see that we had 13 missed calls, 6 of which were from two brothers from one of our wards that found our phone and were calling us that they had one of our phones that they found. They didn't know that was our only phone :P We since retrieved our older phone and plan to return the newer phone today. What a blessing it is to have kind members that are willing to help and do what they can for you ;)

We had a FUN Zone Activity last Monday. It was kind of like the Amazing Race I am told (haven't ever seen that show) and we started at one point at BYU (had to walk everywhere unless a person offered to give us a ride) and had from 1 to 4pm to collect referrals, pictures at certain spots and of serving others, singing hymns and giving out Book of Mormons. Sister Inman and I ended up giving both of our Book of Mormons away, got one referral, served a Sister and sang I know My Father Lives (she is the widow of the brother that wrote that song!) singing to another Sister a Christmas song and taking pictures in front of 3 of the 5 destinations. One of the best Zone Activity I have participated in! Fun and fulfilling our purpose!

One of our Ward Mission Leaders had the great idea to make M&M Meet the Missionaries treats for us to hand out to members in his ward so that we are being seen and so we are on the members minds. So far it has yielded some grateful members and one Less active referral and that was only 4 houses!

Toward the end of a lesson on the Holy Ghost with one of our investigators whom is 'just collecting knowledge' we asked him frankly what and where he is trying to go with our meetings. He was puzzled and told us he didn't know where he wanted to go. After some thought he told us he wants to know the Book of Mormon is the word of God, just as the Bible. We encouraged him to sincere desire to learn for himself and recommitted him to study and pray about it. He accepted and told us he would tell us what he discovers. We feel like he will receive an answer! He is ready for it because he humbly wants it!
I am SO grateful for this time given to labor with all my might! I am healthy, happy and helped in every step! God is good!

Sister Sarah Meldrom