Week 65 (6/30/14)

The mission is hard.
It's the hardest, most emotionally exhausting thing I've ever done.
But just like we go through trials in our normal lives, this has made
me grow more than I can ever imagine (I'm pretty sure I said that last
week... And probably every week of my mission...). But I also never
imagined that it could be this draining. I guess that's what you get
when you are so emotionally attached to SO many people.
I found out last Monday that David (the miracle one who was baptized
in 3 weeks when I was in Tampa), passed away. That was a really really
hard thing to hear. I got an email from Sister Bennett and I was just
in complete shock. I'm pretty sure I went through all the stages of
all that emotional stuff in 10 seconds. But I stayed in the angry zone
for hours afterwords...
3 weeks ago I had the prompting to call him. It was really small, and
then I didn't even realize it was a prompting because or was just a
thought. But now I realize. It wouldn't have stopped it, or even
changed the situation, but that prompting was for me, not necessarily
him.
When I had the prompting, I texted the ZL's asking for permission and
they said the rules had been changed and that we were only allowed to
contact recent converts from past areas over email. Too bad I have 2
that I love most that do not have emails....
The hardest part of all of this has been that I had a prompting, and
wasn't able to follow it. It's no ones fault, and I was never angry
with anyone. I was just completely heart broken and torn up because I
didn't follow through with it completely. I'm sure that if I would
have realized in the moment that it was a promoting, and would have
explained, it would have been different. But who knows...
So I was angry at the world for a while afterwords.... Luckily I have
dealt with death a lot not only on my mission, but in my life as well.
I just still can't believe how much of it I've had to see other go
through and go through myself.
There must be something big going on on the other side. They're
calling the greatest people. They must need more missionaries just
like we did here :)
We caught David just in time :) it was all planned out. He died June
16th, and was baptized May 13th. Perfect timing of course, because
it's His work, and in His time.

I have 100% faith that things happen for a reason. I know that I will
see David again, just like I know I will see everyone else that I love
again. I'm sure David has met my dad and thanked him for raising me
the way he did so that we could be lead to him.
This knowledge is the reason I am out here. Nothing brings me more
peace and happiness than this eternal truth that was made possible
through our Savior Jesus Christ; who's plan I have complete faith and
trust in. I know he lives and that he loves us. Because he loves us,
he gives us things to go through so we can grow into who we are meant
to be.
This is His gospel and the way to eternal life. It's really simple,
and really worth it :)

I love you all :)

Love, Sister Nicole Calder :D

It's the back of my mini MPG

Week 64 (6/23/14)

I'm advance, sorry for the super long email. You REALLY don't have to

read this. The end is the best. :)

Have you ever wondered why there isn't papaya perfume, febreze, ice

cream, or toothpaste?

Yeah.

I learned that the hard way this week.

If someone asks you to try papaya, just tell them you've already tried

it and didn't like it.

You'll thank me later.

Trust me. I'm still gagging over it.

That's my advice for the week.

Also, if someone asks you to try wilted lettuce. Try it! Even if it

looks scary and doesn't sound as good as the word "papaya". It's good.

I was looking through my miracle journal that I've been keeping since

my 4th transfer in the mission. As I looked back I saw all of these

amazing miracles that have happened! The big bold ones where people

accept to be baptized, or where people feel the spirit and they want

to learn more. But then as I think about it, almost every single one

of those ended up not having the results we had thought. 3 people

specifically that accepted to be baptized, and knew it was true, but

are completely lost now. It's crazy! It got me discouraged for a

second, until I realized that those miracles actually had a different

result in the end.

We come out here expecting and wanting to change people's lives. A lot

of the times we think that "change" means baptizing them. But lately I

have realized that that is only the second part of our purpose. Our

purpose is to INVITE others to come unto Christ.

I know, I know, I get told all the time that we may not see it all and

that we are "planing seeds." But I think the seeds get watered more

than we think sometimes. I have seen people change their lives. Not in

huge miraculous ways where they turn their entire life around to get

baptized, but in really small ways.

Like Cory, who finally prayed after not praying for 11 years.

Nathanial, who you can literally see the change in his attitude, in

his face, and even in the way he talks. Lila, our recent converts wife

who looks happier and happier each time we see her and who said she

can see the change in not only her husband, but in herself (she STILL

is not baptized).

There are lot of other people on my mission who I have seen this crazy

awesome change! They haven't been baptized, but I know that will come

down the road when they realize that this gospel really did change

them. It's all about helping others come closer to Christ in the end.

:) when you come unto Christ, you will change in the end no matter

what :)

I had two really huge miracles that happened this week.

I GOT TO SEE TERRI!!!!!!!!

We've driven to Sarasota (which is about 2 hours from here) about 3

times this month. Terri literally lives right on the way back here to

Sebring! I asked for permission and I got to see her! She cried as she

opened the door and we hugged for a long time :) her mom (who I was

visiting while I was there) ended up passing away on June 10th. The

same day as my dad. She emailed me a couple times about it and said

that she just needed a hug. I tried to comfort her, but she really

wanted to see me. So I surprised her by coming. It meant not only so

much to her, but SO much to me! I haven't seem her since she was

baptized and I could see the light in her :) it was amazing!

The next one was that one of the recent converts from Naples who I

just LOVED had stopped coming to church mainly because of her husband

who at the time was pretty against the church and really stubborn. She

went through the temple and went really less active right before I

left Naples. We've been emailing her on an off my whole mission, but I

had the prompting 2 weeks ago to email her, and then write her a

letter with a conference talk. She emailed me back this week and told

me that she talked to her husband and THEY ARE BOTH COMING BACK TO

CHURCH AND HE WANTS TO GET SEALED IN THE TEMPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You have

NO idea. This is such a huge miracle! I have just kept praying for

them because he's so stubborn (he would tell you the same thing haha)

and I wanted them to be sealed sooooo badly!

Blessings.

Ah.

I just love this so much. :)

We are told that in the end our lives will change the most. We can't

help but change when we see others change their lives for the truth. I

guess I just never realized how much it really has changed me!

I love you guys!!!! Very much! I continue to pray for you every day!

Especially because you read my very long emails :) there's just way

too much to say!

Love, Sister Nicole Calder 🌴

The cutest picture you'll see today. 

Remember when Jorgenson almost puked when I showed him where my wart

was that got taken off and he asked what animal attacked me? Redo of

that haha!

Week 63 (6/16/14)

We had a major church movie moment this week.

You know, those missionary moments you see on all the church movies

that everyone wants and are expecting on their missions?! We have

"District" moments where we will have an amazing lesson where we were

just able to teach because the spirit was so strong and everything

went perfectly. Just like a lot of the lessons on the district.

District-ed is what we usually say. Holy cows I need to stop talking!

I just sound even crazier as I go on....

So on Monday after our awesome Elder Clark conference we get a call

saying we have a referral. He was found online by a senior missionary

couple in PORTLAND (yes Emi this is for you! His name was Elder

Chatman). He had a lot of questions and was looking for some answers.

So we gave him a call and he mentioned while we were setting up an

appointment that he was "VERY interested."

You don't hear that too often! He wanted to meet the next day!

We ended up meeting him on Wednesday.

We met him at the church with an awesome member and taught him the

first lesson. The spirit was SO strong! The second we walked into the

building you could feel it. He understood everything we taught him and

accepted it all! Our mission has been working on mentioning baptism

from the first time we meet people, so mentioned baptism while talking

about the Saviors Earthly ministry, and then I was prompted to ask him

if he'd be baptized at the end and HE SAID YES! Ah! Seriously! Best.

Day. EVER! I could not stop smiling!

But wait.

It gets better!

I never thought I could be happier than when someone accepted to be

baptized but I was soooooo wrong!

Sunday he came to church and we gave him a church tour before

sacrament. Then afterwords we were talking about church and everything

before the meeting started and he looked at us and said-

"I did what you said to do and prayed about it. I know it's true. I

know this is where God wants me to be right now. It just feels right.

None of this feels new, it just feels like I'm coming home."

I have never had such a wave of the spirit! You knew that he knew!

Sister Gufstason and I were both speechless! We could not stop

smiling! I'm shocked I didn't start crying! I had to hold it back

that's for sure! It was probably one of the top most amazing moments

I've had on my mission so far. And I really don't think it gets better

than that!! It was SO simple. All he did was pray. And guess what,

that's all Joseph Smith did! Simple boy. Simple question. Simple

answer.

It's all so simple! Yet so many people just won't do it. One prayer

can change your whole entire life around.

The only problem is that people have their agency and choose not to

use it in the way we hope sometimes. :( I've realized how important

that step of praying about it is. We can work out all the kinks

afterwords, but most of the time you have to know it in your heart

before your head.

Seriously though. That line that he said should be in one of those

movies. It might be actually... Who knows!? Man.

I KNOW this gospel is true and that through following Jesus Christ our

lives will be changed forever! This is TRUE happiness and nothing can

ever replace this feeling :) this is what we work our whole missions

for, looking for these people and praying to find them. Then every

once in a while Heavenly Father blesses us more than we can even

imagine. :)

This is all too good, it HAS to be true :)

Hey! Remember how Elder Ballard said we should tell the missionaries

what we are learning in Preach my Gospel! Well I'm ready to hear what

you all are learning! I have a lot to work on!

Lately I've been reading about how I can improve my teaching skills in

chapter 10. I've been working on asking inspires questions, and

listening really close to other people and the spirit! It's made me

really focus outward and not as much inward :)

I love you all!

Love, Sister Calder :D

A huge box of Frosted Flakes on Father's Day. Perfect Timing! ;)

Hot chocolate in a way too air conditioned apartment with tile.