Week 52 (3/31/14)

So this is the longest email EVER! This is what happens when I write

it on the iPad and have time...

I will hit my year mark on Thursday...

Apparently when you've been out for a year everyone thinks that you're

about to go home! I'm telling everyone I've been out 11 months for the

rest of my mission! I guess it doesn't sound as bad... No wonder

people get trunky! Everyone and their dog is counting down every

second for you. Oh man people. 6 months is still a lot of time people!

True, it's been going by WAY faster, but I've still got some time!

I'm going to die in 6 months... You don't keep reminding someone with

something terminal that they are going to die. It's just not very

nice...

My fear of being eaten by an alligator is now second to being eaten

alive by mosquitos... They weren't as bad in the "winter" but they're

coming back cuz it's getting close to the rainy season so hopefully

I'll break my record of 132 mosquito bites this summer... Hheh (SUPER

nervous laugh)

I just wanted to say how amazing my companion is! She seriously is the

GREATEST!! I think our President thinks we don't work or something cuz

we're always happy and having fun! We just know how to do it... :>

she's just my favorite is all :) she makes me REALLY happy and I can

totally be myself around her :)missionary work is FUN! There are lots

of hard times, but we have THES greatest thing in the world! What is

there not to be happy about? Then our fun crazy times just come along

with that....

I've really seen this week how our Heavenly Father answers prayers.

I've seen prayers that we've been praying for, for a long time get

answered. As well as prayers that we have just recently prayed for get

answered. It's amazing to see how He truly does know us and what we

need! If you've been praying for the same thing for a long time and

feel like you haven't gotten your answer yet. JUST KEEP PRAYING. He

will answer you. President Monson said that "sometimes the Heavenly

virtue of patience is required" I TRULY believe that. I've been

praying for certain people for YEARS, I know that one day my prayers

will be answered and my diligence in praying will make a difference in

the end :) but don't forget that you have to continue to have faith

that Heavenly Father will answer, no matter how long it has been.

Plead with him and tell him that you have the faith that he will

answer, even if you feel like you don't have enough. If you feel like

you don't have that faith, pray for it :) I can promise you that he

will answer, every single time. If you feel like your prayers haven't

been answered, ask him how you an recognize that they are being

answered. :) miracles are happening every day for those that look for

them.

Whew. Went SUPER missionary on you for a second! Honestly, I feel like

someone really needed that! Let's be honest- I needed it!

Speaking by the spirit.

I figured out how to get on my presidents good side! Samoas... The

Girl Scout cookies. My mom sent some to me, they were very precious...

But while we were at dinner with him he mentioed those cookies and

asked sister Cusick if he could still get some of those. Sooooooooo I

learn from my mom I guess. She always notices little things people say

and then surprises them by remembering :) I gave them to him before I

went into interviews... I dunno if it helped... Haha but he liked it a

lot.

To clarify... I SOOO was not sucking up! Unless it helped...

I loved the young women broadcast! It made me kind of homesick looking

at the conference center, but then as we all sang together I knew that

I was singing at the same time as my mom and sisters. It made me feel

so connected to them! Such an amazing experience to be a part of :)

I couldn't be happier! 5 less actives at church!!!! We are seeing so

much success in helping these people who were lost :D gosh this

missionary stuff is just the greatest thing in the world :) nothing

could make me happier. :D

Also- old people with technology is crazy funny. I've never seen

someone be so stunned about having the scriptures be read to them by a

man voice on a tablet. Hahahaha. I can't even explain her face. "It's

that easy!?"

Yes people. It's THAT easy :) so no more excuses ;)

We ran in a 5K on Saturday! It was really fun! We ran around Manatee

State park through the woods... Errrr swamp, Everglades, lake thing...

It was really beautiful. Good news, we got 3rd place!! Pretty good for

not really training... Besides the fact everyone we were running

against was at least twice our age if not 3 times... And there were

like 10 people.... But hey! It was awesome :) plus we got to talk to a

lot of people there about who we were :-) which is always a blast!

My mom sent me a Book of Mormon from when I was a Young Women. It has

a simple testimony and then a bunch of young women signed it :) me,

Amanda, M'kenna, Amanda Panda, Laura plus some other people. It was

cool! When I got the BOM I couldn't think of anyone I would give it

to, and I just didn't want to give it to anyone random. But when I met

this really sweet girl on the street, the spirit very quietly told me

to give it to her. So, of course I did! I explained what it meant to

me and showed her the names in the back. She was SO grateful that I

would give her something so special, she almost didn't want to take

it. It was amazing to see her hold it after I gave it to her, she told

me she would for sure read it, especially if it had impacted and

touched my life so much. :) it was such a cool experience.

You see how people can't reject you if you're heartfelt? :) even if

they don't know you!

If any of you want to send me your testimony I can stick it in or glue

it in a Book of Mormon to give to someone :) wait... better idea...

You can give it to someone!

I love you all so much! Thank you for your continued support for me :)

I honestly can't thank you enough, and I know that I couldn't do this

without you!

Love,

Sister Calder :D

#hasteninghiswork

(Yes, I totally just used this hashtag…)

Sometimes we look hard core when we run in 5K's

I found a really white hair

Sister shaw laughing really hard at this 80 year old member  on the phone

Riding bikes with our eyes closed

Our hands don't fit in our mouths

Sister Kenegy being hilarious 

Jumping in the rain

Results of pie and ice cream with Alyssa

Making our POLK shirts

At the race…Yeah my face is like crazy red as always