Week 44 (2/3/14)

We have seen so many miracles this week! I've really learned how Heavenly Father puts us in the right place at the right time!! We were biking looking for a place for about 20minutes! I had been there like 5 times and we just kept missing the turn. It was raining and we were super frustrated. We called this member twice trying to look for it. She told us and we had passed it like 5 times. So we started biking down there. I saw this woman wearing a poncho so we went up and talked to her. Before we even got over she goes, "MISSIONARIES!" I was thinking she was this member or something that I hadn't met… but then she told us who she was… the Elders had literally told us about her 2 days earlier and said we should stop by. We needed to miss the turn that many times so we would catch her at that moment. SO COOL. Then the same thing happened again! But our GPS lead us astray this time…. and so we went down this dirt road thinking it was it for a second…. but then I knew that it wasn't but we went down anyways. There was a lady coming out of her house. We asked her if she knew where this trailer park we were looking for was, and she did!! So cool! Then we were able to teach he and pray with her. We're going back this week! Heavenly Father just knows exactly where we need to be, even when we don't :) I love it! I love that he is able to work through me no only because my call as a representative of Jesus Christ, but because we are being obedient and worthy to receive those promptings and have the spirit. I know that obedience brings so many blessings and so many miracles! We also have seen miracles through members bringing us groceries and picking us up when we bike too far and then it starts raining :) I love the ward here! The UP ward as someone called it yesterday! We only have one way to go! University Park ward!!!!! THe UP ward! I see it every single day! I love this work so much! 

I love you all! 

Love, Sister Calder :D

biking

biking in the dark

my companion trying out my hair, she pulls it off well

Week 23 (9/9/13)

This week has been awesome!

Sorry for the downer letter last week! I guess it just shows that things here are still real... but there are so many more good times than bad!

We had a fun time on Thursday. It was Elder Claudes birthday... (19th... I know. It's crazy) we ate cake and BBQ at the church. Then this HUGE rain storm came! So, the most of the Elders and Sister Whipple and I ran out in it and... really we just ran around like maniacs. Hahaha it was pretty fun. You wouldn't think that would still be fun since it rains every day... but it was a blast haha. But what we didn't know was that this storm was HUGE. Like.... everything flooded. There was about a foot of water on the roads and in our complex. The Senior couple drove us home and they couldn't even get their van in our complex. So, since we had to get to our house we got to run in it (we aren't aloud to play in the flood water because it's really dangerous... so we were happy we got to at least a little bit). OH! The lightning... it was INSANE. There were over 3,000 strikes that night. It was a record or something. Basically it looked like strobe lights.

We also had an AMAZING lesson with Danae this week. One of the best lessons I've had out here. We brought Sister Oakey with us. They connected in a second! Danae knows it's true. She's only had the first lesson and she commited to being baptized that day. So we taught her the second lesson and she just said that everything makes sense and she has always wanted to believe it all! It's so amazing to see how the spirt works. She keeps telling us how much we have done for her but we just tell her that we have done nothing and it's all the spirit. It's the most amazing feeling ever :) I love her so much! It's been amazing to see her want to do better and learn all of this for herself :)

Last thing- we are singing this awesome song in Stake Conference. Like, all the missionaries in our stake. It's the Army of Helaman and As Sister in Zion... but DIFFERENT! I don't like the arrangment as much, but the lyrics to the girls part changed... it's the same tune but the words give me chills every time!

"The sister of zion are called to God's labor. We willing serve him with spirit and might. We go to the nations with truth ever lasting. We teach of the savior our lord jesus christ."

Then this part we sing with the Elders...

" We go forth enlisted with Helaman's army in numbers much greater than ever before....."

Ha. I totally forgot the rest! But isn't that AWESOME! Some how I will get a video... let's be honest.... we go forth enlisted with helamens army in numbers much greater than ever before. It's the best.

That's all:)

I love being a missionary more than anything. :)

This is the most important work in the WORLD. :)

 

Love you all!

Love, Sister Calder :)

Week 22 (9/3/13)

Missionary work is HARD. I don't think I really understood that until this last week. Everyone kept telling me about how hard it would be and I just didn't get it... but I was proven wrong...

Sister Whipple has had Bronchitis the past 3 weeks. So it's been hard cuz she's really weak, but wants to keep going. Finally we got her some meds so it's been helping a lot. On Wednesday we were having the hardest day. We had a recent convert who just went through the temple tell us she's going back to the cathoic church. Then Dawn (who almost got baptized you know) said that she doesn't want to learn anymore. Then like 4 other investigators just dropped us or we had to drop them. All in one day.... we were biking around not knowing what to do just wanting to cry. There were huge black and grey clouds all around us and we were wondering what we should do so we didn't get caught in the rain. Then we just looked up and saw literally just right above us a clear blue sky. It was the most amazing thing ever. We just wanted to cry haha dramatic I know. But it honestly was that amazing. We made it all the way home (10 miles 1 hour) with clouds all around us and didn't get rainned on! It was seriously a miracle!

That same day we went to knock on an investigators door. He hadn't been answering our texts. Right when we got up to do the door I had this really bad feeling and told Sister Whipple that we should go. I had no idea why, but just had to leave. We had heard about 2 weeks earlier that there had been a murder on that very street. We decided to have someone check the news even though we thought we were being stupid to see who it was that got murdered. The bishops wife looked it up. We found out that it was our investigator who had been killed. His dad shot him and his mom. We were heart broken. I have had deaths of people close to me, but never like that. The hurt was a lot different. We did a lot of praying for him. We were just so glad that we were able to at least teach him twice and that we have other people on the other side of the veil watching over him and his mom :) that's the only thing that gets us through sometimes. We are so glad that we were privelaged to be the missionaries that introduced to gospel to him here so that he will accept it there. We have no doubt about that :)

Friday helped with our deteriorating week. We went to visit a LA in a old folks home. We taught her about hymns then went out and played and sang hymns for her on the piano. She loved it and so did everyone else! We are now going back there every week to play hymns with all the old people :) we've been studying their hymns and some of them are the same so we just play those. On Friday we basically just played Christmas songs haha :) imagine a whole room of old people singing Christmas songs :) it was pretty cute and made our day :)

I tracted for 6 1/2 hours on an exchange. We need members to do missionary work! We found nothing. It was pretty stinky and hard. But it makes me feel like a real missionary :)

 

Well! Sorry for the dower news! We are having a great week now! I love you all so much! Remember there is good that comes from everything and that Heavenly Father is helping us! :)

Love, Sister Calder

Week 21 (8/26/13)

Short and sweet again. And hour and a half goes by quick! But i sent some pics so you can have fun looking at those I guess!

SO! This week Michella got baptized in Utah! I got permission to call her and talk to her before. She seemed so happy! I was just beaming all day :) She's so amazing! 

We played the skittle game on Monday. Third place. My jaw still hurts and all of us almsot threw up! We did it with dice.... it was harder than the 2 color one.

It's been raining way too much. We have been stuck inside most of the week. The thunder is lovely here. I will go home and think that the thunder and lightening is so lame. I'm still a frady cat (frady... weird word haha) about it here though.

We had an AMAZING lesson with an investigator named Danae. We taught her the first lesson. Sister Whipple recited the first vision in Joseph Smith's words and the spirit was overwhelmingly powerful! I could not believe it! I almost started crying! We both bore our testimonies on it and I asked her if she felt that spirit? She breathed a sigh of releif and said "OH good! It wasn't just me!" She felt it SO strong! She was amazed that she felt so happy and that was so powerful! We asked her if she'd take that as her answer that it was true and she said yes! She even committed to be baptized! She's amazing. That was the most powerful first lesson I have ever taught/been in. Everytime I hear or testify the first vision I know without a doubt that it's true! You can't deny the spirit you feel! It was such an amazing experience.

We taught early morning Seminary on Tuesday. We thought we'd be exhaused all day but Heavenly Father blessed us with the strength and energy we needed! It was really fun! The youth here are amazing for waking us so early!

I got asked to join a band on Satuday.... on of the Elders investigators came to a baptism where I was playing the piano and he asked me after if I wanted to join his band that he was starting... he said it was kind of Christian. Of couse. I said yes.

Anyways! An amazing week here! The mission is awesome! It not easy... that's for sure! But it's worth every single second!

I love you all!

Have an amazing week!!!!!!

Love, Sister Calder

Week 14 (7/8/13)

Well honestly... this week was pretty slow. We didn't get to meet with hardly anyone and with the holidays no one is home and no one wants to talk to us. We had a fun 4th of July with the Elders. We went to a parade, which some people thought we were a part of.... hahaha they kept asking us who we were with and we would yell, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints! It was pretty hilarious ;) We went and got this YUMMY thing called Gelati at a place called Rico's! Which is where Lazero who was on American Idol worked. They even had a creepy pic of him on the wall. It was so good. And the closest thing to a snow cone that I've had here, so I'm not complainin' haha. We did some other things, mainly played this new game we made up with a small ball and hymn books. That was pretty much the best. Then most of our zone met up at Olive Garden for dinner. That was pretty fun. Especially cuz we went with our recent convert who is going through the temple on Saturday.

I AM STAYING. Sister Andersen is getting transfered to Brooksville which is the most North you can go without leaving the mission. She went from the most North, to the most South. Crazy right? I have heard that my new comp Sister Whipple is AWESOME. She was in the MTC with Elder Chamberlin and was Sister Larrabee's comp in the MTC. They both love her. I am so sad to be leaving Sister Andersen, but I'm excited for the change!

We met our new mission president on Friday. He and his wife are so young! It's crazy! Their 15 year old daughter reminds me of Katelyn and her name is Kate! I am pretty much best friends with her now ;) They have been so strong and faithful in leaving everything and answering to the call of the Lord. It's amazing! I know they are going to be great! But we miss President and Sister Summerhayes so much already! President sure left his mark though. Our whole zone is changing. There is only 2 companionships that they aren't making changes too and that's because they just came out last transfer. Everything else is getting switched up a lot. We are excited though!

Also- I dissected a lizard. I have a 10 minute video of it. Actually- I dissected 2. It was pretty dope. The Elder caught them for me and then put them in their freezer. I bought an exacto knife and I ripped them open. That is probably way too much TMI I know.... but it was pretty fun. Plus those lizards are EVERYWHERE! They are literally like flies in Utah.... actually there are probably more lizards than that. So no judging ;) haha. I thought I would give you something exciting to ready since this week has been really slow.

Last night we planked everywhere. That was pretty fun.

Tonight we are having an oreo party....

We haven't been able to get a hold of Dawn. Her phones aren't working.She's still up in the homeless shelter, but we know she still wants to get baptized.

Michella moved back to Utah so we are hoping to get an email from her soon of her in white :)
Amy is in Utah this week so we haven't been able to meet with her either.

It's been kind of crazy as you can tell.

Remember that 11 year old girl? Well, we got to talk to her! She's still interested, but we have her moms number now we are going to call her and get some things worked out so she can come to church!

We got caught in a huge rain storm.... ok actually.... that happens every single day haha.

I went on exchanges on Tuesday and took over the area for a day. That was pretty fun!

I'm loving getting letters from all of you. But again, I always write right back so it could have gotten lost on the way to you or me :( let me know if that happnes cuz I don't want to lose contact with anyone!

I love you all so much!

OH!

And I wanted to tell everyone how proud I am of my Sister Ashley. I got to watch the video of her opening her call cuz I was at a members house and my mom was able to send it to her. It was amazing. I cannot even tell you how excited I have been this whole week. I'm telling everyone about my amazing Sister who has decided to serve a mission! I love her so much and am so proud to call her my sister! The Phillippines! They are going to LOVE HER! But probably not as much as I love her :)

 

Thank you all for your support and prayers! They are needed and I can feel them!

 

Love, Sister Calder

Week 13 (7/1/13)

Sorry this one will be short. I run out of time when I am emailing people back and forth :)

This week we had a district meeting where we did a thing called "I love you because" one missionary goes up there and goes around and tells each missionary why they love them. I thought it would be weird. But it was so cool! It was very spiritual and build my confidence more than I thought! People told me how they loved that I laughed a lot and that I made everything fun. They said I am not afraid to be myself, but I recognize that I am a representative of Jesus Christ. I loved it! Plus I have come to realize that I remind a lot of the Elders of their sisters... I guess I really don't act my age haha ;)

On Tuesday we had a huge strom. There was about 8 inches of water on the ground and I was the only one who could drive! It was freaky! The Elders said that is what a hurricane is like. So now we are prepared :) Heavenly Father is watching over us that's for sure!

Michella is moving back to Utah but we taught her all the lessons so she is ready to be baptized! We love her so much and can't wait for her to become a memeber of this amazing church! We are still working with her parents, but they say the more they see, the more they love about our church :)

We have a new investigator named Amy. She was a referal from mormon.org. She is AMAZING! We serisouly love her!!!!!!! She is so ready and prepared and we haven't even taught her the first lesson!

We made s'mores over our stove with stuff my mom sent me.

We found cotton candy ice cream (sooooo gooooooodddd!!!)

We eat fresh mangos and coconuts like they are going out of style!

I tried yummy Haitian bread! It's just like layers and layers of bread. It's so thick and yummy!

I got my first violation on the tiwi (we are like the only mission to have these great things in our car that record our driving. I got an RPM violation..... the car goes pretty fast....)

Dawn had surgery but is doing really good! She showed up to church on Sunday! She rode a bus from a place that is an hour away just to be at church! We might have to hand her over to other Elders, but we will see. She's ready to be baptized!

It's amazing how much the members have been helping since that broadcast! Our meal calender is FULL and more and more people want to come out with us. Sunday was focused all on missionary work. The 3 Elders in our ward spoke and the 3rd hour was the bishop talking about how they can help us. We love it! It's amazing what happnes when member and missionaries work together because we are all doing the same work! We are basically just here to help the members. :)

"We are making history." Don't miss it guys :) this is a once and a lifetime opportuity. Grab it while you can!!! Missionary work is the greatest thing in the world! Don't be afraid to share what you love with those you love!

"An invitation that is born of love for one another and love for our Savior will never come off as offensive."

"It's His work. If we do our best we CANNOT fail"

"Help is always there if we have faith"

"There is no line when it comes to preaching the gospel to every creature. Whether they have never heard it- or whether they have heard and forgotten."

I love that last one by Elder Nelson. It's so true. We need to focus on the members that may be falling, and then we will be blessed with new ones :)

I love you all so much! Keep up the good work! Don't forget to always be a missionary!!!! :) Write or email me if you need help with ways to share the gospel or if you are afraid. I'm here to help!

Love- Sister Calder :)

OH! And just to let you know I always write people back in 1-2 days. So if I haven't written you back please don't think I hate you. I either didn't get it, or it got lost in the mail. I love you again! Thanks for you letters by the way! :)