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.