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!