Week 17 (7/29/13)

This week was amazing as usual. A week ago I did something to my hamstring. It actually scared me A LOT! It was being weird in the morning after I ran, but then when we were playing basketball there was this super sharp stabbing pain in my hamstring. It was so weird! I had to hop around the rest of the day cuz it hurt so bad. It hurt way worse than when I strained it in soccer... or whatever I did to it haha. But guess what?! Yep. I'm healed. I thought it was going to be a problem, but prayers work. Always. Every time :)

We saw this week how much member missionary work REALLY DOES WORK. We were at a members for dinner. She said that she really didn't know how to do missionary work after we showed her the Hastening the Work of Salvation website and the videos. We tried to help her a little, but she was still scared. She came with us to some drop bys after dinner. We made 3 appointments with some referals we had in about in 30mintues. Afterwords she said that we should go and visit one of her friends that she hadn't seen in years becuase they lived in the same complex. We dropped by, they were SO happy to see her and her daughter. She introduced us. He then grabbed a chair sat it right down in front of us and said, "tell me about Jesus Christ." Nice. Cuz guess what? That's what we do ALL DAY! We were able to share some personal stories with him about how we had to come to know Christ. He was very touched. Then his wife, who wasn't there when we had shared the stories, said that she wanted to come to church with them. The Sister who was with us what beaming, and just amazing. We told her that people were prepared for her, just like they are prepared for us. We are meeting with the whole family tomorrow with the sister and her family that came with us.

Wow. I felt like I should have showed names. That really didn't seem to make sense haha.

BUT MEMEBER MISSIONARY WORK IS THE BEST! We got more done in an hour and a half with her than we had all day long. We were beaming when we got home. I seriosuly could not contain my excitement for everything! Now is the time! People are ready for it! It's true!

That night we got a text from a number saying that they had read almost the whole Book of Mormon that their friend had given them a month ago and that they wanted to learn more. We freaked out for 10minutes. Thinking it was a perfect ending to our amazing day. Yeah. 5 minutes later they told us it was the zone leaders hahaha they had gotten a new phone and texted that to everyone in the zone. Crazy funny though haha.

 

I love you all so much! I have had so many amazing experiences here! We even had a woman tell us that she could feel the spirit when we first went and talked to her. She usually doesn't let people in her house or trust them, but she now calls us her daughters :) it's amazing! Anyways! Love you all! Have an amazing week!!!! :) Oh and thanks for all the letters and things!

 

Love, Sister Calder

(1 Cor 2:5)

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