Wed 4/24/2013 2:04 PM

There are so many cool things since the last time I wrote! 

 

On Sunday they asked me to give a talk on missionary work for 15 min.  I spent two hours Sat. prepping for it and was really excited because I saw it as a great opportunity to uplift, edify, strengthen their conversions, and help awaken everyone to their responsibilities. 

 

That morning I was starving, but I remember having such a strong desire to be able to communicate the things God would have me communicate to them, so I decided to fast.  I remember going over my talk as I sat on the stage before it started when a great desire came over me to just go and greet everyone in the congregation until the meeting started.  I was filled with such love that day.  I was the first to speak.  I remember pleading with all I had that I could be the Lords mouthpiece during this time to say the things that His people needed to hear.  When I stood up I was a little nervous, but then everything just came out as I opened my mouth.  I pronounced everything perfectly and the Spirit was so strong!  Then next thing I knew I wasn't even looking at the paper, but staring them all in the eyes and pouring my heart out to them and the things God wanted me to say.  It was such an amazing moment.

 

After sacrament everyone was astonished of what had come out of me, since I've only been out about 6 weeks now.  It was truly an amazing experience... being used as an instrument in the hands of the lord and to speak with tongues.  The best part is all day Sunday I was able to understand pretty much everything being spoken and able to speak to everyone.   My confidence in the language increased so much, but then the Lord, in his wisdom and humor, allowed me to have days this week where I could hardly understand anything or speak it!  It's still a wonderful thing to see His hand in my life.  I love it so much.  After the meeting we finally got a whole paper full of names of those who want to come out with us. There were just 4 names on the sign up and afterward all 20 slots were filled!

 

We have only been able to meet with Alma once since last time we visited her and her son because of her work schedule.  A member wanted to go with us, but we did not know she would be bringing her young daughter, who prove to be a big distraction.

 

We realized that what we really needed was to be bold with Alma because that is the only way anything really hits her, but she still has not set a baptismal date yet.  It's been hard to meet with her son since he has had a lot of doctor appointments lately, but our week is still really packed with appointments.  We received a huge list of names from our Branch Pres., and along with our investigators we have a lot going on.

 

Our branch sent in its paper work to become a ward!!! It is awesome!

 

Before I forget, another thing that happened on that same Sunday....while we were out contacting members and sharing messages with them we were called over two times by people in cars!  In each case they wanted to know more about the church and expressed how they felt they needed guidance in their lives from God.  It's neat to see how when were are doing what the Lord would have us do & go where he would have us go, by relying on Him, He puts people that He has been preparing in our paths.  How great and marvelous this work truly is!  It is amazing to see it move forward and especially to see the Lord's hands in it all, for it is His work we are doing, it is His Gospel we are sharing.

 

Every time I pour my heart out to him in humble prayer I always feel his love and guidance.  It is truly amazing to me to see the progress, not from what I can do, but based off what I can do with Him by my side.  To see where my Spanish was just a short few weeks ago, and where it is now and all of the different experiences where he has allowed me to speak with the gift of tongues, my heart is truly full of gratitude.  I am beginning to know what it means to trust in Him by turning to him in all things.

 

Oh how I wish I could just open my mouth and instantly share all of these things with all people, so they could come to know what I have come to know.  I am so grateful to be out here, to be able to have met some of the most amazing people in the whole world.  I hope with all my heart I can share this gospel with others with the same zeal and conviction that the sons of Mosiah did.  I love it so much and I'm so grateful for it in my life.

I know with all my heart that this church is the Church of Jesus Christ that has been fully restored on the earth today.  I know Jesus Christ knows each and everyone of us perfectly and our own individual struggles, for he suffered them for us in order to help us overcome and become like Him.  Last of all I know that Jesus Christ lives and this is his work, for it has beem made manifest to me time and time again before my very eyes.  I leave this testimony with you and a challenge to put to test my words to find out if what I say is true by doing the things I have said to do in the previous entries.  I leave these things with you all in the sacred and beautiful name of our Savior and Redeemer, even Jesus Christ, amen.

Mon, Apr 15, 2013 at 11:43 AM

By the way.....my companion made me a sandwhich that is called "Ramen Sandwhich".  You boil the water, throw in the Ramen for literally 2 sec. then take it out, split it open and then put an egg in the middle with ham and fry it on both sides then put it between two pieces of bread.  It's actually not too bad.  I wont eat it all the time, but it was pretty good.

The other Counselor in the Presidency is President Michael Haight.  Also, Clayton Christensen has a book out about member missionary work which is really good that is only 10 bucks because he wants it to be affordable.  I cant remember the title, but I'll let you know.  So, the library thing.  Today it was suppose to be closed because it is a holiday, but the one we come to is actually open.  Also we are very low on miles because of all the leadership training meetings we have been going to. So, it is just a maybe thing that I won't be able to email you on some Mondays.

This last week we didn't get to go do service because we had a leadership training and also interviews with the Mission President.  We work at the zoo from 11-1 and the thrift store, "Penny Lane," from 11-1 as well.  The thrift store also has a section that is used for disabled kids.  It's really nice.  We have a washer/dryer in our apartment, so that is really nice and I will send pics today of the apartment.

Last P-Day we went to the beach and lighthouse.  We hit tennis balls with a mini bat we found and played soccer and football.  I will send pics of the light house as well.  

I just want to make clear everything is going just fine out here, and I didn't mean to scare anyone, if  I did.  It was just very interesting to me about the circumstances going on out here.  There is a lot to write about.  

 

Before General Conference we met with this lady named Alma who has been what we call an "eternagator" meaning she has been taught all she can and still isn't baptized. She has been attending church for 9 years, 6 off and on and the past 3 every week.  We have been praying mightily striving to find out what she needs and to get her to open up to us.  We have been making progress.  Anyway, before Conference her son invited us in (1st time meeting him).  He is huge! A very big man. probably like 6'4" and just huge.  Anyway, his story is he had a 9 lb. tumor in his stomach and got it removed, so he has been recovering at his parents house and can't lift anything over 5 lbs.  He speaks english and something else I thought was cool, as he lived in Japan for a few years.  Anyway, we had him sit in on our visit with his mom and he participated a lot.  The main thing we came to this visit for was to prepare Alma for Conference and receiving that confirmation she felt she still needed that the Church is true (she believes the BofM is true and everything else, she just wanted a confirmation from God).  So we taught both of them.  I was filled with such a love for them, and the spirit was so strong.  We watched "General Conference Has Something For You" video by Jeffrey R. Holland and then shared further how wonderful Conference is and how we then can receive answers to any question we have if we prepare for it.  I had no idea what was going on, but I know that it was all the Spirit.  I can't take credit for it at all.  I bore testimony, I invited, I promised and told them exactly what they needed to hear.  Camillo (the son) accepted the invite to watch, so did the mom.  We taught them the purpose of prayer and how to pray and found out the mom's personal prayers were in bed laying down and she would fall asleep.  Anyway, it was an amazing experience.  The spanish rolled off my tongue. I had to ask my companion sometimes exactly what they were saying and ask for some words, but that didn't matter.  It was remarkable!  Alma watched it and Camillo watched one (since he is still recovering) and it was the one on faith and flipping the light switch on and off by Pres. Uchtdarf.  He liked it a lot and it has been getting him to ponder things.  We haven't been able to meet with him after that because when we stopped by he was at the doctors.  Alma, when we met with her the other day, said she wants to get baptized!  We tried setting a date with her but she isn't sure when and wants to talk with her sister who is also a member.  I remember leaving that house so filled with love and grattitude for all that the Lord had done for me and his help during that time.

Another cool experience was this last week when I went out on an exchange with an english elder in my disrtict.  We contacted referrals all day and it went really well.  His name is Elder Broadhead ( the one in the hat pic with me).  He is a country boy from Utah.  Also sometimes looks like Justin Bieber haha, but is really cool.  There was this girl who was probably 24 who loves learning about religions and believes in the morals of them, but wants nothing to do with religion.  She was very nice and it was a porch visit and we 1st talked to her about it really quick and gave her two B of M's and pamphlets of the restoration because she wanted one for her cousin in another state.  She loves the church's geneaology program and actually would defend our church from people saying things they didn't even know anything about, which was cool.   We left and started driving away when I got the prompting we should have gotten the information about her cousin, and so we went back because I felt strongly we needed to.  It turned out in the end that wasn't the reason we went back.  I know now that the reason we went back was to bear our testimonies.  I remember looking her in the eyes and bearing my testimony to her about the Book of Mormon.  I shared a little of my experience and as I bore testimony of it the spirit was so strong and her eyes started getting a little watery.  I then left her an invitation and challenge to put the book to the test.  To do what it said and promised her that she could come to know what we and many others have come to know.  Now I do not know what will come of this, maybe nothing, but I sealed our visit with my testimony and looking back it wasn't to get infromation on her cousin, but rather to testify that it was just not some other book, and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is not just another religion, but it is the Church of Jesus Christ that has been restored on the earth today.  It was so amazing!  I love this work so much that I can't even come close to express the true feelings of my heart.

I would like to leave you all with my testimony, that I know this church is indeed the Church Christ himself established on the earth and it has been restored again today in its fullness.  Time after time of sharing this with others and seeing and feeling God's spirit solidifies that truth deeper and deeper within my soul.  I know that all who take the challenge, as I did, to put it to the test and do as it invites us to do which is, to read it, ponder it, and to ask God with real intent having a desire to know. I promise you that you will receive an answer of it's truthfulness by the Spirit of God otherwise known as the Holy Ghost.  What greater witness can you have than from God?  I am not here to convince you of its truthfulness, but rather invite you to find out for yourself.  I know God loves each and every one of us perfectly for I have felt that love even in the hardest of times.  I know that he knows each and every one of us perfectly for he is our Father in Heaven.  I know that Jesus Christ is the only Begotten Son of God and that he suffered more pain and anguish for us than we can ever come close to fully comprehending - "For I God have suffered these things for all that they might not suffer if they would repent.  But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I, which suffering caused myself even God the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, to bleed at every pore and would that I might not drink the bitter cup and shrink.  Nevertheless I partook and glory be to the Father" D&C 16-19.  I know with all my heart, all my soul that Christ lives and he is always calling us to come unto him with his arms open.  I beg of you, please do not turn away from him.  Accept his invitation and you will come to know what I know, that he lives and how wonderful that is.  I leave this with you in the sacred name of our Savior and Redeemer, even Jesus Christ, amen.

Elder Salerno

Mon 4/8/2013 8:36 AM

Bad news..... I had more pics but I accidently deleted them all off my card : (

I was messing with my camera and clicked yes on arrange card or something like that and next thing I know everything was deleted!  I will have to take more.

Everything out here is going good.  It has been very hard lately with a lot of interesting things going on.  A little background on the Mission Presidency and the Boston, MA Mission. We have our Misson President, Pres. Packard - a successful lawyer, awesome man, very strong in gospel, and very very intune with the spirit, following it and looking for ways always to be better. His Counselors: Clayton Christenson - rated the smartest man in the business world, works at harvard as one of the big guys on campus.  He shares the gospel to some of the most intelligent people in the world and now has a study group for the book of mormon with them. :-)  We then have his other Counselor, Pres. Hate (not sure of his first name or spelling), a very, very successful businessman who meets with some of the most powerful men.  He always shares the gospel with them. A quick story, he was meeting with a very powerful man and felt prompted to share the restoration with him (btw they won't tell us who) he said the Spirit was so strong they were all crying.  So, this is just a little background of our presidency.

They obtained the records of our mission as far back as Salt Lake had, which was 5 years, and put the information through a very fancy computer for cause and effect.  It shows us the importance of having a member at EVERY LESSON.  It showed the baptismal rate increased because of this.  So, now the theme or vison of our mission is to build Zion.  It is possible if we keep doing all we can.  Elder M. Russell Ballard is very interested in this mission and keeps constant contact with the Presidency.  He has come back here a few times already and he is very excited about what is going on.  

In addition, our Mission President brought up in a meeting about how Satan is so very strong and doing all he can to stop this work. Since our Mission President was called he has had to send home 20 elders (he has been Pres. for 8-9 months). A lot is going on and I can tell you that Satan is doing everything in his power for I have felt it and I can't even imagine what it would be like if I was not set apart with the authority of God and power of God to go forth and preach this gospel.  Even after receiving this I can feel the weight, the great storms.  Never the less, I know in whom to trust and rely on.  Through Jesus Christ my Savior, my Redeemer I can do all things and Satan can have no power over me.  I have learned an even greater importance of being fully 100% obedient in ALL things and ALWAYS having my thoughts turned to the Savior and doing that with full purpose of heart.

I love this work, I love the people.  I know that this is God's work and he will continue to be by my side as he already has been.  It is so amazing to open my mouth with faith in Him, after doing all I can to prepare, and relying on the Lord faithfully, to then walk into a home and love those people perfectly and want with all my heart them to hear and accept the invitation to come to Christ.  I know how greatly they will be blessed.  It is amazing to do these things, feel this way and open my mouth not knowing what to say and then all of  a sudden find myself speaking spanish fluently, pronunciating clearly and saying things I know that are not from me but from God.  Then to see in their countenances a peace, light and hope come across them. There is nothing more magnificent than that.  I love it!   Experiences like that solidifies my testimony that this is the true church of Jesus Christ restored on earth once again and that has a prophet called of God to guide his children back to Him.

I know that this promise is for all who accept the challenge and invitation to put the Book of Mormon to the test.  For if you desire to know if the Book of Mormon is true, if you read it, ponder it then pray and ask God if it is true, in the name of Jesus Christ, God will tell you of its truthfulness in your heart and in your mind.  If the Book of Mormon is true, than Joseph Smith was a prophet who restored Christ's Church once again on the earth.  If that is true, then this Church is true and its trachings are true.  How great this knowledge is!  How great the peace, joy and guidance this can bring to lives!  I know this is all true because I have put it to the test.   It is what keeps me going when life gets hard and I now know in whom I can always rely on and that is Jesus Christ, my Lord, my God.  I know that Jesus Christ lives, that he gave his life willingly for us that we may, through his sacrafice become clean, receive peace, and know how to improve to become who he wants us to become.

I leave this testimony with you in the name of Jesus Christ our Savior, amen.

Elder Salerno

Please Keep me and all the missionaries in your prayers and pray mightily for us. We need it.  I need it. I love you all and mom I will get more pics and send them out to you.  Also, I may not be able to get to the library for a while.  If that is the case, I will write you letters and maybe you can scan them on the computer and post them up.  We will figure something out.  Anyway, I love ya. 

Mon 4/1/2013 8:35 AM

Oh, also I dont know if I ever told you.....

My companion and I have had a lot of work to do and still have a lot of work to do.

We came into this area with no new investigators, so we have been working hard in trying to find and get the members involved.  All the meetings we have had are 2 1/2 hours away.  The exchanges we have been pretty successful with because I feel we have been relying on the Lord. 

We now have 7 Investigators, one with a baptismal date and the others will have one too, we just need to meet with them more, but it has been hard since we haven't had the time this last week and we found them pretty much this last week and the week before.  We have a lot more people to find, but I love it!  Anyway, that's just a little update on the work.

Mon 4/1/2013 8:22 AM

Oh, and we do puzzles at the library while we wait for computers...check out my work!

Mon 4/1/2013 8:18 AM

For the last week or so we have gone on splits because my companion is the District leader and also because the Zone leaders wanted to get to know me better. So, I have been teaching a lot in English which is really, really nice but makes it hard to get back into the Spanish mode.

We do service twice a week.  Once at a zoo on Wednesdays in the morning for 2 hours and the next day at a thrift store for like 30 min. to an hour.  The zoo is the best part of the day! We get free entrance to the zoo (it isn't very big, but it is still cool) and they have huge tigers there.  This last week we helped to get an area ready for an Amur Jaguar that is very rare and so our work consisted of digging holes and breaking huge thick pieces of cement with a sledge hammer ( that was the fun part).  It was really nice because I have actually missed hard labor.  As for missionary work.....it's hard work too, but it's a different kind of hard.  On average. when we don't have the car, we walk about 10-12 miles a day.  I can do that easy enough, but it's the spiritual and mental work that is a bit different, but I love that too.  I am very glad for the experiences I had before my mission to prepare for my mission.

This last P-day we ate at this little mexican restaurant that members own called La Mexican which is so good.  They tell us to come by once a week and we get free food.  After that we went down to the beach because we had to stop by the old missionary apartment to drop some things off and the beach was actually really nice.  It was very cold, but beautiful.  I love looking out and seeing what seems an endless distance of ocean with beautiful blue skies and white fluffy clouds (how's that for description, mom!).  There was also a tiny little lighthouse that added to this scene.  If I had a fancy camera I would have probably just taking lots of pictures it was so beautiful.  If I had never seen the movie "Jaws" while growing up, I would probably live on a sailboat.  It was so peaceful out there.

After this little adventure on the beach we stopped by this car shop near our house that has all sorts of very old cars and very nice ones at that.  For instance there was a 1932 Mercedez and a 2006 Astin Martin.  Very nice!  The men who worked there were really cool guys as well.  I am not very good at taking pictures, so I will try to get better at that as well, but I did get some pictures of some of the cars, so check them out.

As for the language I still have a lot to learn and most of it is getting my ear use to the different languages spoken.....practice, practice, practice!

I love this work because I know that since the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is Christ's church fully restored on the earth today, the same church Christ established when he was on the earth.  Because of this knowledge is the reason why I am serving a mission.  This is something all people can come to know, as I have, IF they just put the Book of Mormon to the test and accept it's invitation.  I know once they do this they will know that Jesus Christ is the son of God; that this is His true church; that Joseph Smith was a Prophet and that we have a Prophet on the earth again today.  I know that once they come to know this they will learn the answers to the questions of life. Why are we here?  What happens after this life?  How can I be truly happy?  How do I need to live for this to happen?  I know this because I stand as a witness of it for I have put it to the test.  I know others lives can be blessed because of this knowledge and there is no greater knowledge to have than this.  I know that Jesus Christ lives and knows us perfectly and wants us to turn to him, so he can help us in all things. I leave these promises and testimony with you in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Elder Salerno

Mon 4/1/2013 7:47 AM

Easter was really, really good!  I loved it so much!  My companion found out during our meeting with our Branch President that our Mission President turned us over to them and said we can hold any calling they need filled and that if that happens we can then be in that area for a year!  It is pretty cool to think about.  Later for church we did something in every block, lol!  In sacrament they called us up to bear our testimonies on the Savior and it was a very spiritual experience for me.  The spirit was so strong!  After that we taught sunday school to youth from 12-18 about the Atonement. We watched "The Lamb of God" and then my companion turned the time over to me. The spirit took over and all the things I learned about the Atonement in the past two years came back to my memory. Some of the youth started getting teary eyed and it was just a very very spiritual experience. There is nothing grander than to know by the Holy Ghost that Christ took upon Himself all our sins, sickness, infirmities, and everything that is unjust in this life that we will go through. "Which suffering caused myself even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every poor and would that I might not drink the bitter cup and shrink." - D&C 19:18.  To know exactly what the Savior went through because of the love he has for us, is so amazing; that we can be forgiven of our sins, receive peace and comfort and hope during any trial we go through in life.  It is so amazing.

Later on in the evening we baptized a lady named Maria Lopez. She is so nice and patient with me tryin to understand her lol (speaking and understanding the lang. are completely different things especially with so many different spanish dialogues in our area), it was an amazing experience! My first baptism and we are going to baptize her 20 year old daughter in 2 weeks as well. One of the things I loved is when we asked her about how she felt right after she was baptized, words cannot even explain how much love I felt for her and the Spirit that was present. The joy, the peace, the strength she felt because she decided to follow our Savior Jesus Christ and his example and be baptized by those who hold the proper priesthood authority of God is so wonderful. There is nothing greater than seeing those you love follow Christ's footsteps because you know how much it will bless their life.

I have to go relog, my time is up.

Mon 3/25/2013 8:26 AM

It really isn't all that ghetto.  I don't think so any way, but there are some pretty ghetto places.

 

It is sad because a lot of the houses were once so beautiful, but they aren't taken care of.  There are usually 3 families living in one house, but sometimes there is 5-6, so the whole house is divided up.

 

The weather hasn't actually been to bad.  I like it.  It snowed once where it really stuck, but the next day most of it melted.

 

We have been eating pretty good.

 

A little too good, lol, but every Monday morning a member brings a huge thing of cooked rice, meat and juice, so we always have something for dinner or lunch if needed.

 

The families here feed us pretty often, so far any way, and they really stuff you!

 

I am keeping a journal.  I admit, not as often as I should, but every time I have a very awesome spiritual experience, I write it down.  I am trying to do better at it every night.

 

I love all the architecture out here.

 

Elder Salerno

3/18/2013 7:35 AM

Lol. I have actually had dates before (to everyone - the kind you eat!) and they are pretty good.

I will send the misson schedule to you next pday, but yes, this is still the email you write to and send everything else to my mission  office and then they send it to me. It is easier this way because then I dont have to worry about it. It jsut takes a little longer to get to me. And next pday I will send pics to you through email.

Could you let Nate and Paige know I can listen to music and everything out here. We are allowed to listend to Lord of the Rings stuff!  lol.....Really, just anything not too crazy, but I just want music to turn my thoughts to my Savior. Tell the Hainsworths and Anna I said CONGRATS!   Thanks for doing that on Facebook for me and I am proud of you to figure it out! lol

Ok, so for the good stuff.......I am serving in  Bridgeport, Conneticut, the very bottom of our mission area and everyone in the mission says it is the most ghetto of it all, but I love it!

I am in a full time spanish speaking area and I'm in a spanish branch.  They meet in a very different kind of building.  I will take a pic of it for you.

Anyway there are currently 14 Priesthood Holders who pay tithing and we need 1 more to pay tithing in order to become a ward.

As far as investigators, when I arrived it was halted a bit.  Now we have a lady named Maria ready to get baptized which will be very soon.  My companion is Elder Hawks and has been out for 21 months, so in missionary language I am his last son and am going to kill him.  He is a good Elder and speaks really good espanol.  Anyway we have been working as hard as possible and have been having a lot of pretty good success in finding people since we have been relying on the Lord and talking to EVERYONE we see!  However, there are a good number of those we have found that speak English.  When they are interested we have to pass them along to the English Elders.  But, anyway, it is amazing out here, so that is the background.

My Mission President, President Packard and his family are AMAZING. There are really no words to describe them.  They have been out for 8 months and have changed this mission so much for the better.  We have become a really successful mission under their guidance.  All we do here is focus on the members because it is through members that the work is really most successful.   President and his wife are both lawyers and very intelligent.  His counselors are very intelligent as well.  His counselor wrote a book about how to become successful ward missionaries ( members) and did it because M. Russell Ballard told him to write it because of his success in it. So we are using that as a tool to our advantage.

Cool experiences.......

The day after arriving to Boston we were staying at the mission home and they took us to Boston Commons ( a park ) to go contact people.  I was companioned with Elder Treseder who was in my District at the MTC.  Well, let's just say the people out here are different, they never even really talk to each other or say hello.  It is just different.  So anyway, before we started we prayed and asked God to help us find those whom he has been preparing for us (field is white) and after moving forward opening our mouths and getting completely ignored (which was not bad at all, but fun) we finally came to a guy who was pulling out his guitar and we started talking to him. Shortly after, he opened up to us and talked about how the people here aren't very welcoming and open and then he started telling us about his life.  He has had a hard life and addicted to many things. Because of his background he was praying to God for help and then we walked up, so he thought that maybe this was the help.  I know that as we move forward, not judging others, seeing them rather as they can become, the Lord will help us find those whom he has been preparing for us.

I arrived on Wed. to my mission area and my companion showed me where we go to church which is right across the street ( which is nice) and as we were walking around getting to work I was just filled with a great love and vision for this area, those in it and what we could do here.  Our mission theme is to Build Zion.  I know we can as we just give the Lord our all, relying on him, recognizing He is the one that makes all things possible. I can't explain fully how I felt, but I just got a vision of what this area could turn into and it is amazing!  We have a lot of work to do, but the success we have already had is because we are giving the Lord our all and constantly looking for ways to give even more and the Lord has blessed us.

As for the language...... Let's just say I have a lot of improvement. There are so many different forms of spanish here.   I pick up words, but for the most part I'm lost, but it's ok.  I love every second of it. I love the people and the Spirit guides me.  I don't know what I say half the time.  I just open my mouth and it is wonderful.  It is, however, a little harder to open my mouth when I have no idea what is going on, but I love it anyway.

I have to go replensih my computer time......I will continue in another message.


Mon 3/18/2013 8:05 AM

 

So, as I have mentioned, we have been busy.  We share a van with the other missionaries in our apartment. There is one other companionship.  What we have been doing is instead of riding bikes when we dont have the van or for the days we don't need it, we just walk. That way we can contact every single person we see on our way to places.  It is going very well.

Since we went right to work when I first got here, I haven't gotten groceries at all, so I have been living off of rice and really just the snacks I had from the MTC and what the other missionaries have been letting me eat.  I don't eat much cuz I don't want to eat all their food.  But, it will all change today lol!

The weahter has been below 30 the past few days and its really the wind chill that gets you more than anything.

On Sunday I met the members of the Branch.  I was, for the most part, lost during the whole thing, but they called me up to introduce myself and bear my testimony. It seemed like I was up there for only a second and it was really cool. That was probably one of the times that I did pretty good at speaking it.

So, since I have been out here, with everything going on, Wed. I had no language study.  Thursday no language study because we had an appointment in the morning, and then the same with Friday. Saturday I didn't either because M. Russell Ballard came to speak to our mission and since we were too far away it was broadcast to us, but it was really good (Sorry I'm all over the place and my grammar and everything is not good. Just too much to say.)

To say in simplified terms. This place is amazing!  I love everything about it.  I love the area, people, and the buildings.

I am able to go forth and share this message to ALL people no matter the circumstance because I know that this church is true.  I know that because it is true, if the individuals that we share it with will accept the challenge to put our testimonies to the test along with the words of the Book of Mormon they WILL receive a witness that it is true.  That God loves them, knows them, and has restored his church in its fullness yet again on the earth.  With this knowledge and by following this they will then come to know who they are, what the purpose of life is and be able to obtain a level of peace, joy and happiness that they would not otherwise be able to obtain. I know this will happen because I put it to the test.  I have experienced this for myself and know from God that this is true.

This is a promise for all. Those of you reading this, please put my words to the test.  What do you have to lose?  If anything at all you have so much more to gain than you can yet comprehend at this time.  I leave you with my testimony that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is Christ's church fully restored on earth again.  That we have a living prophet today as in times of old who receives guidance from Jesus Christ himself because this is Christ's church.  I know with all my heart that this is true and that Jesus Christ lives. I leave this testimony and invitation to you in his sacred name, even the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Elder Salerno

Mon 3/11/2013 1:42 PM

Thank you for the goodies!  By the way, I loved them =D.  Also, I mailed home my temple bag with my temple shoes because I dont need them I can just use clothes from the temple, but I had to keep my pants, tie and socks. Yes, it will probably be better off sending stuff to the mission home because my address changes and they can mail to me whereever I am.

 

 

Fri 3/8/2013 6:28 AM

I don't know if I already said this, but please make sure you get on my facebook and let everyone know.  Also post my Boston address on there and on my blog so people will  know how to write me and whatever. Thanks. Love ya. Also write Garrett, Petey and Gavin on facebook and let them know about it.  Anyway thanks again love ya.

On Fri, Mar 8, 2013 at 5:52 AM

By the way, some of my pics, the quality, was not the greatest.... like it was too bright because my camera is new and I am still trying to figure out settings, but I'm told they can easily be fixed, so you can ask someone how to make them better or do it yourself.  But they are all good. Some are just kind of random, lol.

 

3/8/2013 5:44 AM

Thank you for letting me know about my taxes.  Yes, Rosette did send me a pic of her name tage too!  lol.  

Any way, I love ya and sorry I didn't get to write as much as last time.

Be sure to tell me how everyone is doing and let everyone know I love them.

Also please email the website address for my blog and once a week if you would get on my facebook and post the website to the blog and get on and post little tidbits of my experiences, testimony, or whatever you feel like.....Please?

I love ya mom and thank you again for all you have done and continue to do for me.

Elder Salerno

Fri 3/8/2013 5:41 AM

Thanks mom for sending me a package. I haven't gotten it yet.

I have been taking pictures, but I'm not the best at taking them, so it's a good thing my companion is a real picture kinda Elder!

It's so crazy that I go out in the field on Tuesday!  I can't wait!   A little nervous but really excited.   Before I started sharing some things I wanted to thank you for all that you have done for me as a mother. I am very grateful for EVERYTHING so thank you very much. I have been studying my patriachal blessing and every time I love when it says that I chose the family I came into.  Looking at it at that perspective I know why I chose you as a mother. So thank you again.  I love you very much.

I want you to know I am leaving for the airport on tuesday around 6ish and my flight leaves around 930 945. So I might be able to call you (they allow it), so just have your phone on you just in case.

By the way, I really would like my water bottle and if you could find time to go through my old scriptures and look around on the table where they are to collect all of the little notecards that I have been using and maybe if you can print out a talk for me and send it to the mission field in Boston. The talk is by Elder Jeffery Holland in conference 2012.  The one about the apostles turned again to Galilean fisherman.  I think it's titled if you love me  or something like that.
Anyway, before I go I just wanted to let you know that,    
I know that with all my heart that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is Christ's church fully restored on the earth today.

I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet and translated the Book of Mormon through the power of God.

I know that the Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ and with the bible together they testify of our Savior Jesus Christ.

I know that those who sincerely seek to know if this church is true, and who pray and ask God WILL receive an answer of it's truthfulness.

I know that God knows each and every one of us perfectly and exactly what we stand in need of and is ready to help us if we just turn to him.

I know with all my heart and soul that Jesus Christ is our Redeemer, our Savior and that he lives!

I leave this testimony, this knowledge, with you, in His name, even the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, amen.

If there are any of those who are reading this who are struggling with their testimonies, who have none, or those who don't have a clue to what I am testifying about, I invite you to find a Book of Mormon, read it, ponder it, and ask God if it is true. I promise you that as you do so with real intent wanting to know, He will answer you and when He does you can come to know a peace, joy and happiness that you never thought was possible!  A peace, joy and happiness that can only come from God.

So once again, I CHALLENGE you to put my words to the TEST.

Elder Salerno

PS:  For a free copy of the Book of Mormon, go to www.lds.org to request a copy.

 

Fri 3/1/2013 5:46 AM

That is so true! (see below).  Thank you again for everything!  I love you and am grateful for your letter. I got a bit preachy in my last letter.

Btw, when I go to the airport they allow us to call home before the flight, so make sure you have your phone on you all the time and loud because I leave the 12th! ttyl

 

On Sun, Feb 24, 2013 at 1:52 PM, Nancy Salerno wrote:

Hi Son,

Just returned from Sunday Session of Stake Conference and it was absolutely wonderful!  Elder Bowen stated that as the world grows darker and darker and darker, we have a greater opportunity to receive more and more personal revelation than ever.  That we should always be asking questions and writing them down and praying for answers, so that as we go through our days, we will recognize when someone does answer one because our Heavenly Father uses others to sometimes answer our prayers.  The more we are aware of our questions, rather than just when we ask them while praying, the more likely we are to know when one has been answered, either while reading the scriptures or while visiting with someone or while sitting in a meeting.  He really emphasized the need for all of us to seek after more and more personal revelation on a daily basis.

Pres. Polly talked about how everyone is seeking happiness and
that our Heavenly Father wants us to be happy, but that so many in the world define happiness as "If only I could.....have more money, live in a bigger house, have more friends, etc., etc.," when really we should be saying, "If only I could be more like my Savior."  He then went on to say that we need to bind ourselves to "ACT" in all righteousness."  Glory shall be added to the kingdom you shall receive, but if we don't bind ourselves to ACT, then it is taken away.  In other words, most feel they are doing good just by not doing bad, but we need to step it up and not just decide between doing bad or good, but between good and better.

As for your blog....I will go through and clean up any spelling or formatting issues, but the rest is up to you! :-)

Love you Son,
Mom

Fri 3/1/2013 5:44 AM

Awesome, thank you mom for sharing about your Stake Conference with Elder Bowen!

 I am going to buy another sd card and send some pics home that way or if I have time upload them through an email( but more than likely won't have enough time)

Everything is going really really well! I got my travel arrangements the other day.  It's so weird to think that I have already been here 4 weeks!

We have got 2 new districts in our zone and now the elders are outnumbered by all the Hermanas (sis.) by one in our zone.

On Sunday we had M. Russell Ballard come to give the devotional and it was amazing! He walked in and when he did everyone felt the Spirit so strongly! It was an amazing talk!

So, an awesome experience I have had (just one of the many) is about a hermana who was new and struggling a lot. I prayed and prayed for the pure love of Christ and the Spirit so I could know how to help this struggling hermana. By and By the Spirit gave me, in the very moment, what she needed. It was an amazig experience and I will have to go into more detail another time when I have time.  I will just share the last part of it.  After following the Spirit I felt prompted to ask if she wanted a blessing. She said yes and so we ( my companion, her comp. and coordinating sisters) all went into a quiet room and she asked me to give it. This was truly an amazing experience as I know with all my heart that what I said was not from me. The Spirit was so strong and I literally felt Christ in that room telling me what to say. There were things that were said that I had no idea she needed to be said and promises I gave that only the Spirit could have given her. After the blessing, this once struggling Hermana was filled with such peace, joy and happiness that she could'nt contain herself. When she was able to get hold of herself she later told us that as she was receiving the blessing she felt more than just the Spirit very strongly, but she felt an actual presence by her side with arms around her.

I just want you to know mom, and those reading this, that I know with all my heart and soul that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints IS Christ's church fully restored on the earth today. I know that because Christ's church has been restored, we have the same Priesthood that the prophets of old had, the same power by which the sea was parted, by which the dead was raised, sick and afflicted healed. and last but truly not least I know with every ounce of being that Christ lives. I have felt his presence and love so many times during the past two years and especially while I have been here at the MTC.

For those of you who may be struggling in or out of the Church, those who are not members of the church and have no idea what I am talking about, I want you to know that I love you, and that Christ loves you more than you can ever comprehend. Start reading the Book of Mormon which truly is another testament of Jesus Christ and pray to know if it is true. Once you receive that answer (which I know you will) you can then come to know a peace and joy in life that you never thought was possible to have. I leave this testimony and witness to you in the sacred name of our Lord, our Savior, even Jesus Christ, amen.

Elder Salerno

 

Fri 2/22/2013 7:21 AM

That is very true. Singing is a great way to invite the spirit that is why every devotional we sing like 5 songs lol. Hahaha. 

Oh good ol grandpa and gma I love them an miss them as well as all of you!

Yes it was a bit interesting being both District and Zone Leader, but just Z.L. now.  It sure takes it to a whole other level, but it is nice because I have an opportunity to serve more and share the love I have for more of my zone.

I am better now.  I still have a little cough but am so much better.  They have a lot of stuff you can buy, so I loved Emergen C. Also if you could maybe sometime send me some charcoal because the food here at the mtc it really isnt bad, but it does have its effects on you lol.

Ya it is hard at times but I love it. I have felt Christ's presence here so many times already and he has been by my side the whole time. I have had the wonderful opportunity to give blessings and just meet with people and as I did that and cont. to do those things with real intent and the pure love for them, Christ has been at my side literally whispering in my ear what that individual stood in need of.

I love it here so badly and when others have left it was hard.  It will be hard to leave the MTC but I can't wait to get out in the miss. field.  I already am dreading the day i will have to leave my mission and come home. NO offense lol.  I will be excited to see everyone then but I would honestly love to be able to do this every day of my life full time like this. Any way I love you very much and all the family. ttly

Elder Salerno

Fri 2/15/2013 5:50 AM

By the way.... I sang in front of people in sacrament meeting last sunday with 4 others.

We sang, "How Great Thou Art," and had solo verses.

It was different.

Any way, Love Ya.

ttyl

Fri 2/15/2013 5:39 AM

Thanks mom! Ya well there is something going around here I have been sick this whole week but it's ok nothing I can't handle. I have just been moving forward and not letting it get in the way of what I need to get done.

Sorry you are sick and everyone else.

So I have more news for you. They made me and my companion the zone leaders here now. So as of this moment I am a D.L. and a Z.L lol but I love it. I am able to serve and focus on others even more now and even though that means I get pretty much no study time I love it because the Lord has been helping me learn the lang. even more! I love you very much.

Sorry this letter is not in Spanish I am not feeling too great at this time. Any way know I love you, the temple days we have here are amazing and I will keep in touch.

Elder Salerno

Fri 2/8/2013 6:37 AM

Thank you for letting eveyone know. I can only email family members and as far as my pday it changes every week here so there isn't a certain date. I want to write in Spanish but don't have time today. I just want you to know that it will be awesome to be able to send pics and have people be able to keep up with how things are going.

I ran into Julia Harris here! It was pretty cool.

There are soo many missionaries here now last wed there was 800 new ones and this next week there is suppose to be clsoe to 1000. I love being D.L. it is such a wonderful opportunity to serve and I know that I have been called at this time to be able to help my district with what they are struggling with.

I love this work, I love serving, I love learning Spanish even though it seems I have to relearn everything I spent so hard trying to learn in the first place lol. But we have been teaching an investigator and it at first was very humbling but now things are progressing and I love it. It just seems like there is never enough time to get done all that we need to because we are always learning espnaol, gospel things in english and espanol and so I have had to squeeze every  sec. of free time of my day.

I am lucky to have the companion I have that is for sure. Any way when I get more pics I will send them to you. I love you and tell Rosette it is amazing here. Or better yet just forward this to her. Also tell her she better write me before I leave the MTC lol.

Anyway hopefully i will have more time next pday. I love you and will ttyl

Elder Salerno

Sat 2/2/2013 9:57 AM

Querido Familia, (Dear Family)

(I will be writing in Espanol/Spanglish just fyi so some of this letter you will have to have someone translate)


Hola mi familia! Yo amo el MTC. Es moy deficil but moy worth it, so it's bien. Mi companero es el Elder Blackburn from tahachepee CA y el moy amor. He is an awesome companion, he has two years of spanish on his belt already btw. Estamos esnenar noestro uno leccion en Espanol y it was moy humbling. We really only had the day to prepare and so mi Companero y mi decided to fast and had a wonderful day, we studied, prepared with all our strength. As we went to meet with our investigator Isaac (a guy who actually baptized the real Isaac) we prayed before we went in in spanglish and desired so badly to be filled with love and to teach by the spirit and that we could portray ourselves in Espanol. As we walked in I felt all the Espanol I studied and had down pretty good go away. My mind was blank! LOL so I prayed continuesly for mi companero and he was able to remember things he learned two years ago. We weren't really able to give the leccion or get our point across in the lesson the spirit was guiding us to and so after we had him read Alma 32:27 I just bore mi testimonio en espanol. It was very simple and completely correct but the spirit was there. Estudiomos Espanol es moy deficio but it is possible and worth it. We have to teach him again a leccion today at 4:30 so it will be interesting. I was made the District Leader of my district we have another elder companionship and two sister companionships and I mucho amor. I love being here and it really isn't as hard as I thought it would be, it is still hard but mostly because it seems like there is no time to learn the language, take care of everything else like my district, but somehow there is time. I love it very much and I love you all very much. I originally wrote out a letter in espanol but I felt for the first one as I strated typing I should write you in mostly english. The next one will be in espanol/spanglish. Btw the food here is actually pretty good! same with the orange juice. Please forward this letter to Rosette, Pres Rich and everyone know that isn't family I can't email them only write letters. I love you.

I would like to bear my testimony that I do know this Church is true, I know Jesus Christ is our savior and loves us more than we could ever imagine. It is by his grace we CAN do anything as long as we are faithful. As my teacher said "Frustration diminishes faith." that is also true. So for all of you keep moving forward feasting after the words of life (Christ).

P.S. Next time I write my testimonio will be in Espanol. Love you all Lots. Pray for me plz!

Adios!

Elder Salerno