Week 15 (7/16/13)

So this week has been really great. I got a new companion her name is Sister Whipple :) She is AWESOME! It's funny though, I didn't think I would miss Sister Andersen as much as I do! But I'll see her again so no worries ;)

Hilight of the week.... I totall fell off my bike.... twice... in one day.... I vowed I would never fall off my bike cuz only weird Sister missionaries do that.... and I totally did. I swear I know how to ride a bike! And I know how to get back on the sidewalk when you go off.... that's how I did it... I caught the curb just at the right angle. It was crazy! Like... I should be more injured than I am. I have no doubt Heavenly Father is protecting me! Sister Whipple was riding behind me... I was right at a busy intersection too hahahaha oh man. It's still funny. Just imagine how a dummy would look falling off a bike. That was it. My elbow didn't catch me, but neither did my hand.. my head was the first thing to hit the ground. THANK GOODNESS FOR HELMETS! WEAR YOUR HELMETS! Haha It was so funny. My shoulder is still pretty sore from it, but nothing else! Sister Whipple and I had to stop riding a couple times cuz we were laughing SO hard! It was hilarious! We are telling everyone about it cuz it was so funny! We laughed with so many people and they didn't even see it ;) then later that night I literally did the same thing. There was a pile of Palm Tree leaves in the middle of the sidewalk so I went off of it and for some reason AGAIN I fell off. Sister Whipple was in the front so she didn't see, but she said that she saw me coming out of the pile. I probably looked pretty heroic. ;) Jokes. Or like a crazy person. That was for sure it. ;) That time I got a good scrape on my elbow ;) but still! It could have been worse! Then on Sunday Sister Whipple fell off her bike. That one was in a neighboorhood and she got really scraped up! She even had gravel in her hand! We didn't laugh at the one... cuz it was way more sad. But I told her it was carma for laughing so hard at me... even though I laughed really hard at myself cuz it was pathetic. The Elders are still laughing at it as well ;)

We also have seen like a million dead things on the ground.... A rabbit, raccoon, turtle, armadillo, snake, frog, lizard.... everything! Being on bike is seriosuly the best hahaha and that's not even a joke.

Cool thing- We got an assignment from President. He picked only a couple Elders and Sister for this. He thought we were obedient so we could do it! We get extra time today to go over the website "Hastening the Work" if you haven't gone on or have seen the brodcast, DO IT NOW. I'm not kidding. It's SO important. So we will be training our members on it and using that website more. He trusts us I guess.... ;) He also asked me if my facebook was appropriate. I was able to say YES! So I will be using facebook soon I guess... hahaha they will have to go over it just to make sure.... but really I'm not sure exactly how that will be working. Everything is slowly getting different. I'm just glad that I am able to be a part of it! President said that in the MTC they said in 20 years we will be astonished and so proud that we were on our missions at this time.

Sorry! I don't have much time! We've just been doing a lot finding so I don't have much to say!

I love you all so much! Don't forget to go to the website!

For all you missionaries..... well... that means everyone ;)

"If we state who we are, representatives of Jesus Christ. They will NEVER forget that."

 -President Cusick

Love- Sister Calder :)

Week 4 (4/29/13)

I cannot believe that I have already almost been on my mission for a month. The time has flown, but also gone super slow. I don't know how to explain it... but all of you that have been on missions know what I am talking about.

I have a lot of random stuff to say, so this might be intersting.

I get to play the piano... a lot. I'm super grateful for my not-so musical ability... but I'm glad that I can help out. I am even doing a musical number with an Elder from our Zone! It's pretty awesome!

I forgot to tell you when we went through training the first week they gave us gator training. That was interesting. They told us if we feed a Gator we go home... I really wanted to feed one... but oh well.

I will be sending a once in a lifetime picture to all of you... meeeeee..... holding a snake. It's a miricle. We went to see gators on our pday and on our way home one of the elders had to go to the bathroom so we stopped at this gift shop place. We were talking to the owner and asked if he knew about our church, he said that he didn't really but remember that during a hurricane we were giving out toothbrushes. So because of that he let us in the back where they had TONS of disgusting animals. We got to hold a gator, hold a 200 pound disgusting snake, and hold and play with birds and stuff! It usually costs a bunch but he let all of us do it for free! Pictures to come! It was such a fun time!!!!

A skill I developed in the MTC that I have carried on here.... sleeping wherever... whenever. I seriously fall asleep in the weirdest places. 8 hours is not enough when you are doing stuff for the rest of the day! But it makes for good nights sleep :)

I was reading an Ensign article and one story was about a missionary who was discouraged. He missed his family. Then he looked at his name tag and realized that he had not only his name, but his families name, and most importantly Jesus Christs name. He said that we need to act a way that would be pleasing to them because we are representing all of those people. It's that amazing! I loved it.

I was on a rain streak. It rained every single day that I had been in Florida... then it stopped on Tuesday. It was sad. Anyways...

If you are confused why everyone is getting letters right away our mission president has said that we can write our families and friends every single day after 9:30 because that is our time. So don't think I'm naugty. ;)

I have come to love and respect the priesthood more since I have been here. It's amazing too see Elders worthily use their priesthood for good :)

Going along with that... we were visiting part member families and come to a house. Her mom was the member once upon a time and so her daughter knew nothing about our church. We have been teaching her and she loves all of it! We were teaching her about the priesthood and told her it was the power to act in God's name she said, with confidence, "so it's a SUPERPOWER!" It was the cutest thing so now Sister Andersen and I call it that :) it's been amazing to see how close children are to the spirit and to see that they remember the things we are telling them! 

Yesterday we had an investigator just walk into our church. She said that she saw a church and believes in God so she came in. I truly belive she was lead to us! She stayed for all 3 meetings and was writing a bunch of stuff down that we explained to her and was reading from the Book of Mormon. Her faith is strong, we are meeting with her tonight and can't wait to share more about our gospel! Plus, the topic of Sacrament meeting just happened to be the restoration! And we talked about Priesthood in Sunday school and blessings in Relief Socity! We can't wait!

So on Wednesday... or some day... all of the days go together... we did service and laid sod for Habitat for Humanities. It was super fun! The only thing..... the red ants here are EVIL!!!!!! SUPER EVIL! They bite and it feels like a bee sting times 20! Then they left these blister things all over our hands and arms. Good thing the smart Elders who have been here almost 2 years gave us some stuff to put on them. They looked like big nasty puffy zits all over!

Anyways...

wecanputt.blogspot.com is our mission presidents wife's blog. Check it out! I think there are pics on there! :)

I have learned to close my mouth when I bike. They like bugs here.

The crickets sound like an alarm. The first night we were driving and I was like what the!? So I opened the window and I thought the gas station was being robbed. My companion laughed and said those were crickets. It took me a while to believe her....

I have almost been hit by 2 cars.... I'm not even going into detail, but we were being safe. That's all I'm gonna say. Heavenly Father is protecting me!

We are not aloud to listen to music here yet I have heard Stayin' Alive twice. It doesn't make sense I know....

I love you all so much! I am loving it here more than ever! Every day I become more confident in this work!

D&C 123:17

Love, Sister Calder