Week 11 (6/17/13)

Dear... everyone...

Honestly I don't even know who reads this, I think I'm just barely realizing this....

This week... it's funny. I always start these emails with this week and every single day in my journal I say.... well today....

It was pretty good. It's been a little rough. We have lost some potential investigators that we thought would be pretty solid. So we are back to square one... finding. We had a tornado warning this week. So.... warning is way worst than watch and for the watch we were inside ALL DAY long. That one was also a tropical storm though. OH yeah and on Tuesday we had a Lighting warning as well. Good thing that one wasn't for too long. It's crazy what staying inside will do to your mind though! All you want to do it get out and do missionary work. It made me a lot more appreciative that's for sure. Dawn is supposed to be getting baptized this Saturday, but we have to get her living situation figured out first, it's been kind of a mess for us to figure it all out, but it is totally worth it in the end :)

We had to get some of Sister A's letters out of that dumb mail box.... so 2 pieces of gum and my awesome skills later we got them out of the box:) the hardeset part was finding a stick... there are only palm trees here.

I think I'm having a brain fart... I really don't remember what we did the rest of the week.

Well, we finally were able to meet with Rafelita who we have been trying to visit for weeks. She was so happy to see us and now calls us her daughters... (a lot of people do that.... don't worry I'm really safe with lots of moms here). We  had a lunch with a potential. She cried as we recited the first vision, but says she loved her religion so much that she doesn't think she could do another. Plus she's moving... huh. Seeds planted. That's just what we keep saying ;)

Fathers day was a lot harder than I thought it was going to be. I just had to pretend like I was happy and not wanting to burst into tears all day... that only works for so long....

We are doing a musical number for our mission president and his wife. They are leaving really soon. Our district is doing "Love is Spoken Here" at our conference with them tomorrow. I'm playing the piano for it ;) (love that I get to do this because I get out of singing). It reminds me of my grandpa's funneral and when all us cousins did that beautiful musical number :)

We just got done making a huge batman pinata for one of the Elders. It's pretty legit! Actually... it's way more than legit. I don't want to break it.... I am pretty proud of my artistic ability on this one, espeically because I actually have none ;)

Anyways. Sorry for boring you with this one. I'm boring myself writing it.

I love all of you so much!

Love, Sister Calder

Week 10 (6/10/13)

So this day has been bitter sweet. Today it has been 5 years since my dad has passed away. I am so grateful and happy that I have this amazing gospel and the knowledge of The Plan of Salvation and the knowledge of each of our individual plans. But it's also hard being away from those that I love most to share this day with. My dad was the greatest example to me. He taught me to work hard, never give up, and always trust completly in our Heavenly Father. He never once complained about his life. He taught me that this gospel and our family are the most important things and we should alway cherish the good times in life. He was always smiling and could make anyone laugh. I never doubted that he had a firm testimony. I can feel him helping me every single day on the mission. I don't know what I would do without him and my father in Heaven helping me every second of the way.

This week reality hit me. As I got mountains of mail from my sisters and mom on Monday I felt homesick for the first time in my life. I cried as I read the letters and realized everything that I was missing. It was one of the hardest times that I have probably had in my whole life. I felt like I was being ripped in half. All I wanted to do was get on a plane to come home so I didn't miss anything else that has been happening in my sisters lives. But I wanted to stay here becuase I love my mission with all my heart and I love the people here. I prayed to have the comfort to fight and make it through. After I balled for a while I felt this immediate comfort and peace that I knew I was supposed to be here, and I could never deny that. Heavenly Father will take care of my family. If it wasn't hard, it wouldn't be such a sacrifice and I would never grow. He let me have a little bit of home for a while and then brought me right back to where I know I am supposed to be.

 

Sorry. Whew. Sometimes we need to share of hardships with others so they can learn and grow :)

 

Let's get happy...

This week was FUN! On Thursday morning at about 3:00am our weather radio went off. YES! We had been waiting to hear what it sounded like, but it was pretty scary too... it was a flood watch. We were like ok. Went back to bed, 10minutes later it went off AGAIN! This time is was a legit tornado watch. We freaked out for a sec (like happy freaking out) and then went back to bed. In the morning we got a text from our mission presdient telling us to stay inside ALL DAY. We were not to leave our apartments. It was stormy and windy all day long!!!!!! Sometimes we freaked out, and sometimes we laughed and coudln't stop talking about how this really was happening. We made a whole video sequnce of the events :) I will send that soon haha. We also built a fort and watched some movies. It was a party. :)

Friday DAWN committed to BAPTISM! She is getting baptized on June 22nd AT THE BEACH! We invited her to a beach baptism some Elders in our zone were having and she didn't make it for the ceremony, but she was like oh well, I'll just have to wait for mine! We are SO excited! I seriously cannot explain my JOY!!!! She was the one who just walked into our church off the street. So we started teaching her and will get to end teaching her as well! Oh man. Seriously guys. This is the best!!!!!!

Then we vistited a referal that we got from HQ. Her name is Mikelle. She is AMAZING! So sweet. She actually got a gymnatics scholarship to SUU so that's where she's been going for the past 4 years. Her parents live here, but she was introducted to the church by an RM at SUU. She's so interested and even came to church with her mom on Sunday! :)

Mom- I had my first FRESH Mango off a tree. Nothing compares. They are SO GOOOD!!!!

 

R.I.P. Pip Steve Williamson. A squirrel that Elder Rowan ran over, who is still living. He was in the middle of the road, we went to touch him so we could bury him.... but he moved. It's really sad.....

 

Every single day I have convincing evidence that THIS is EXACTLY where I am supposed to be. I love my mission and I love all of you so much!!!!

 

Love, Sister Calder

 

Week 9 (6/3/13)

This week has been AMAZING! I seriously cannot tell you how much I love my mission!

I have really developed a strong testimony on prayer. I have had so many prayers answered and have really learned to listen and know exactly what my Heavenly Father wants me to do.

We have gotten caught in LOTS of rain storms. Welcome to Florida summer and hurricane season :)

Sister Miles left and it makes me want to cry every single day. I love her so much. :(

I love p-days! I had to buy a volleyball cuz Sister Miles left and she was the only one that had one! I used a whole bag of m&m's and threw them in the Elders mouths. That was fun. Plus we had a nutella party cuz Elder Langi was leaving. I brought pickles for it and people loved it! It really is good. Everyone go and try it now ;)

I left my first Saviors Peace and Blessing! It is just a mighty prayer on peoples homes. The woman was in tears by the end. We felt the spirit SO strong! It was amazing!!! The new people in our zone are pretty cool! Nothing compares to our old zone though ;)

It's funny how much comp inventory helps! Sister A and I are getting along better than ever!!!

We were going to visit a referral that the Spanish sisters gave us. We visited the whole house twice and when the wrong person answered we were shocked, but we decided it was good cuz then they have a chance to hear the gospel! Looking on the bright side :) that's what we are working on.

Sorry this one is so quick. It's been a crazy p-day.

I almost ran over a baby bird, but then we saved it's life instead.

I have decided that fasting on the mission is hard. I had a really hard time with it last week. So this week I prayed that I would be able to focus on what I was fasting for and not my hunger. IT TOTALLY WORKED. Imagine that :)

Anyways. I love you all so much!!!! :)

 

 "The trick is to enjoy life. Don't wish away your days, waiting for the better ones ahead. The grand and the simple. They are equally wonderful."

-Sister Hinkely :)

 

Love, Sister Calder

Week 8 (5/28/13)

Well this one is probably going to be short again :)

 

This week was pretty awesome. We went to a wedding on Friday. It was a recent convert and someone Sister Andersen knew was going to be there. We got invited and needed a ride cuz we are on bike so the Elders drove us. The trio forwarded the message to us about the wedding cuz that used to be Sister Andersens phone so the groom invited them as well. Then the Naples Sisters felt left out so they came too. It was pretty awesome and they were totally cool with it. The couple was cute. It was on the beach, but not all the way so we could go. We now know why we can't go on the beach.... it's not good for the Elders.... or the Sisters really. But it was so much fun.

We had transfers this past week. Everyone thought that I would be training after 6 weeks. I was totally willing and ready to do it. I thought I would learn a lot if I did. But, Sister Andersen didn't get transfered so I'm still with her :) but it's good cuz then I can learn even more from her :)

One of the Sisters went home. Me and her cried a lot together. I have become so close with her. She makes me feel like I can be myself and I can talk to her about anything. She's just like Sister Lee ;) She got hurt abgout 11 weeks ago and still isn't healing. She's going home to get a scope and to heal a little bit. Then they will know if she needs surgery or not. She's coming back though sooner or later thank goodness! Not to the same area... but I will see her every once in a while :)

P-days are the greatest. We basically just laugh the whole time. I could sit and explain to you all the funny things that go on... but it wouldn't make sense. :) Let's just say I convinced everyone that pickles and Nutella are good (which they really are!!!!!!) and they all ate it. Most everyone liked it :) I love our zone! Too bad that was our last p-day together :( Everyone has some change going on except the Spanish Sisters and Sister Andersen and I.

We taught the first lesson to Dawn. I recited the first vision and cried a lot. She said it peirced her soul. She believe that it is the true church.... someone is holding her back though. But we just contine to pray and we know that everything will work out in time. :)

Sister Andersen and I laugh a lot :) missions really are the funnest thing ever. Elder Anderson was right when he said it should be mission FUN cuz it totally is :)

I have learned a lot about having a personal relationship with my Heavenly Father. We pray so much. I love it :) I feel like every day I come closer to my Father in Heaven and I can listen to the spirit better and I can find who I need to find and say what I need to say.

 

"If we exercise faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the enabling power of his Atonement strengthens us in our momemnt of need."

-Elder Cardon GC April 2013

 

Mom- this quote reminded me of you :)

 

"How you love and honor her father, his priesthood, and his divine role will be reflected and perhaps amplified in your daughter's attitudes and behavior."

-Sister Dalton GC April 2013

 

Because it was memorial day I was reminded of dad. This has nothing to do with the quote but I could just see everyone in our family huddled around the graves of grandpa and dad and eating food. We celebrate the lives of the people we love becuase we have the firm knowledge that we will see them again. That's why I'm here. To share that amazing message with others. :)

 

I love you all so much! :) Don't forget about me please :)

 

Love, Sister Calder

Mom- Elder Langi is a football player for the U. Sister Miles and I tricked him by telling him that we were going to write our names on his shirt and we did a big Y instead ;) some of my cousins might actually know who he is. He also likes my sunglasses..... his first name is Haveais. I think he was a reciever or something. But you should ask people if they know him ;)

Too bad he got transfered. He's pretty much the best haha

Week 7 (5/20/13)

This week has been slow. We had appointments and all of them fell through. We are stuggling to find people and have done a lot of tracting. I went on an exchange with our Sister Training leader (who we used to live with) and I loved every second of it! I learned more from her in one day than I have since being out in the field. I felt like a real missionary for a day. I really don't know what that means. But it felt really good. Now I am working on those things she taught me with my comp and everything has been a lot better! I even learned some Spanish! They have an English class that they teach and I was able to sit in on it. The Spanish brothers would say something in English then Sister Hill would make me say it in Spanish. They all laughed really hard at me. Let's just say- I'm very white :) it didn't help that that day I got SUPER sunburned! But I did learn how to say that I don't speak spanish but we have sister missionaries who do speak spanish, can we send them over? So when we are tracting and come into a Spanish family we can send these sisters over. I'm pretty excited about it :)

We learned at lot about working with memebers in our zone conference on Tuesday. It was a lot of fun, and very interesting. They really want us to focus on memebers, and member referrals. So that's what we have been working on lately :)

On Saturday we went to the Hatianaries baptism. It was an amazing experience. We got there late because they were delivering a couch to our house. But we came in while they were playing prelude (I was asked to play, but I had another sister do it becuase I knew we would be late. I am so grateful for her!!!!:)) and the woman that got baptized came in waving her hands and said with a huge bright smile on her face- "I'm so happy!" I couldn't help but cry. That is what this gospel is. Pure joy. Even now I get emotional writing about it. That is how we should always feel. So happy about the gospel that we cannot even contain ourselves. That's why I'm here. I am so happy about the gospel that I cannot even hold it in any longer. I have to share it with everyone! :)

 

Helamen 5:11

We are those angels. The Hope of Israel. :)

I can't even explain to you how much happiness I feel to be a member of our Heavenly Fathers army.

 

"As we give devoted service to Him, He draws closer to those we love in our families."

-Presdient Eyring April 2013 General Conference

 

I thought that quote would give hope to those of you who are struggling with your children or family members who have fallen away. I have a firm testimony that if we trust in the Lord, and serve him with all of our heart, might, mind, and strength that everything will be made right in the end. I can promise you that as a representative of Jesus Christ. :)

 

I love you all to infinity and beyond :)

 

Love, Sister Calder

Week 6 (5/13/13)

This week has been cray-cray to say the least. 

We moved into our new apartment on Wednesday. So Tuesday was mainly spent packing and cleaning. Sister Andersen has more stuff from her 6 month mission than I did in my house for 10 years. It was very frustrating... but I found my favorite shirt of ALL TIME in our graveyard. So I'm trying to be ok with it. ;) 

It's weird being called Nicole. I've only been out a month... imagine how it is going to be in a year and a half! 

We had a cool experience with 3 prayers being answered in one day. I can't tell you how much my testimony of prayer has changed!

On Wednesday we met with an investigator. His wife was baptized 1 year ago and he just hasn't come along. He's had all the lessons, but doesn't think he should stop drinking coffee. He made that very apparent. We tried our best in the lesson not to argue, and to just answer his questions and bear testimony, but it was a rough go. I went home very discouraged thinking that not everyone is ready and we should just give up. Advice- never think that. It's not a good idea. But I had been praying like a crazy person that his heart would be softened. 

The next morning we get a text from his wife telling us that he said he would try drinking less coffee for her. And that if she wanted to go to the temple, he would take her there. I can't tell you how amazing this is. He is very stubborn and was not having any of that the day before. It was such a huge blessing! We screamed when we got the text and we were beaming the rest of the day. We knew it was an answer to our prayers and his wife's prayers.
Later that day we decided that we were going to visit one of our other investigators in the hospital. She was the one that just walked right into church. We hadn't been able to get a hold of her, and were feeling really discouraged about the whole thing. But then we got a call from her from the hospital explaining everything. She had been wanting to learn more but with all the hospital stuff she couldn't get a hold of us until then. So we biked 10 miles in the middle of the day (we were determined to see her) to the hospital.
We couldn't find exactly where we were supposed to go once we got there so we stopped at a desk to ask someone. The lady was very nice in giving us directions. After we were done visiting our investigator we needed to fill up our water bottles so we went back to that same place we had asked for directions. As we were walking in we asked that same lady if there was a place we could fill up our water bottles, she said yes and then immediately after said, "I think you are the Sisters that are teaching my daughter Gracie." We both looked at each other and started freaking out saying telling her that we were. We had been praying to get in contact with Sister Hilton for weeks so that her daughter could come to church. The father wasn't ok with us teaching her after 2 lessons but Gracie wanted to come to church to learn more.
We found Gracie when we were visiting part member families (I can't remember if I have told you about her). Her mom was a member when she was young, so she knew about our church. But we couldn't call Sister Hilton because she didn't want her husband to get mad. So we prayed that she would call us so her daughter could finally come to church. Seeing her there was an answer to our many prayers. It was such an amazing experience! She is going to start bringing Gracie to church because she begs for it every week. We are still beaming from the experience and can't wait to start teaching her more. :) 

The last experience of the day was a woman who the Elders have taught all the lessons to, but now that she is in our area (we switched with the Elders when I got here) We had been praying that she would set a date and know that she needed to be baptized. She had never been overly excited about it, but she teaches her 3 year old son about the stories in the scriptures and he loves it! So we had been praying for her. We met with her and she was just glowing. We asked her about the date and she was so excited. We still aren't firm on it yet because she has to check and make sure her boyfriend (who is actually a member... he's usually at the lessons, but he couldn't make it there this time) would be off of work that day. Also, beach baptism might be in the picture ;) but she was even talking about the temple! She was asking things like when can she go to the temple and what she would have to do for that. It was so amazing. We couldn't stop smiling that night. That was the best day of my mission so far, and I know that I'm never going to forget it :)

We have been doing service projects about twice a week for 4 hours. Someone recent converts in the Naples Ward (the ward right next to us, but it used to be our ward until they split it right before I came out) is doing habitat for humanity and the mother is pregnant so they asked the missionaries if they could help. They need 500 hours to get a house and it's just the two of them. So when you combine all the missionaries (there are usually 16 of us that come) times that by 4 and then that by 2 that's how many hours we can do for them in one week. We love doing it! We have painted the inside and outside of houses, laid sod, put sticky stuff on the floor, done molding things. We love doing it. This week it was funny because we got there late and all the missionaries were cleaning off all the paint stuff. The guy in charge told us they painted the outside of the house the wrong color. Luckily they had only done half of it. So we took a break to let it dry and then came back and started paining again. We thought it was the wrong color after we had painted about a 1/4 of it. So we asked the guy and he just said to paint it over with this other paint. Turns out it was the same paint, we were just painting it all over again with the same color... lots of paint and time because we are a little clueless ;) it was super fun though!  

On my mission so far one thing that I have learned is that I need to rely on others. We always are needing rides and food, and help with things. I have never been the kind of person that likes to ask others for help... but my mom always taught me that it is ok to ask for help from other people. So that's something I have been trying to be better about. I think all of us have to remember that. We need to let other people serve us. We can't deny them those blessings. We are here to help others and learn from each other :)

I love you all so much! I hope you had an amazing mothers day!

"Be a beacon to the whole world!" 

-Elder Perry

I'm loving the letters! Keep them coming :) they help me more than you can even imagine!

Moroni 7:31 (this is not just a missionaries calling) ;)

Love, Sister Calder:)

Week 5 (5/6/13)

My new address-

7779 Jewel Lane #101

Naples, FL 34109

 

If you have sent a letter to the other address in the past couple days don't worry about it. Some awesome Elders from our district are moving in so they can give me the mail.

 

Thanks again everyone for your prayers. They are much needed and I can feel them. :)

This last P-day we had the 4th injury of our zone.... Elder Shank twisted his anckle... let's just say I'm pretty hesitant to play sports with them at the moment... it's just so fun!

 

Aunt Diane- your first aid kit came in handy for Elder Shank ;) and also for another Sister :) luckly all I have needed out of it was a bandaid :)

 

We had a Sisters Conference on Tuesday! I got to see Sister Lee which pretty much made my week! I love her so much! It was funny to see all the Sisters legs though... it looks like we have a plague going around with all the ugly bug bites on our legs! So there are officially Sister Training Leaders in the field! They are kind of like zone leaders, but for sisters and they cover bigger areas :) Sister Bench and Sister Hill are the very first ones for a couple zones in our mission! :)

 

Wednesday was hard. We fasted all day for my mom. That was the day I have felt the most homesick so far. I know that because I was fasting Heavenly Father gave me strength to be calm and have peace. I don't know what I would have done without that peace. But that morning our bishop gave us a blessing. My comp and I and the Elders that are also in our ward. It was just to help us with the new area and everything. It was so powerful. He promised me that I would see one of my investigators get sealed in the temple with their family. I can't tell you how motivated that made me. It was a very specific and powerful promise. He also told me that my mission would help me be a mother in zion. It was such an amazing blessing that I needed so much at that time.

 

I had my first weird moment... one morning Sister Bench and I (she came out the same time as me) went outside and we were like- "OH! It's COLD!" We look at the thermometer on our car... it was only 69 degrees... this is going to be bad when I come home.

 

Remember that investigator that just came to church last week? Well, she wasn't answering our... many phone calls (Sister Andersen and I decided that missionaries are creepy stalkers....) so we went to her house. Right as we pulled up I had the feeling to not knock on the front door. I thought it was just nerves, but both of us looked at each other and said that we shouldn't go in. So, of course we followed that and didn't. We have no idea what would have happened. But I am so grateful for those very small promptings that we get from the spirit. I still cannot believe how small it was. But because we have been focusing and praying on having the spirit and listening to it we could feel that :) it was pretty amazing.

 

On Friday it was exactly one month that I've been a missionary! I celebrated by of course... taking 3 showers in a day (I'm not kidding) one after our workout, one after a serivice project, and then one after biking. It was a very eventful day.

 

Saturday I had my first door slam while tracting. That was fun... then we found this turtle in the middle of the road! Pics will come. I don't have enough time right now.

 

I have 18 bug bites on my legs... they will not be pretty when i come home that's for sure.

Everyone uses their car horns here...

There are tons of lakes. I'm pretty sure the whole state is going to collapse soon.

 

As my dad said in his mission journal- "This is true happiness, and nothing replaces this."

 

I totally believe that more than anything! Bringing someone to the gospel is TRUE HAPPINESS! 

I love you all! Sorry this one was short! :)

 

Happy Mothers day to all you moms out there! :)