Hey Yáll!
So sorry for not writing the last week. I didn´t have any time really to write. I would just first like to thank you all for your support and love. I have been going through some pretty crazy times here on the mission. My last comp left to his house about 2 weeks ago. Now my current comp is on a plane back home to the states right now. He came and immediately began to rethink his decision. It was very hard these last 2 weeks. To add on to everything, he has severe depression and it was just getting worse and worse. The only thing that I can say right now is that I have a testimony that God is ALWAYS in our lives. For a little bit of the time I was with my comp, it seemed for him that this trial was basically for no reason at all. He had come all this way just to go back. But I can testify to you all that The Lord has a plan for him He has a plan for me too. Both of us were in that same plan during the time that we were together. I know that he came here for a reason and I am so glad to be able to know him. I love the guy so much and I am so blessed to be able to have this time to learn how to develop more attributes of my Savior Jesus Christ. I know that God has a plan for each and every one of you and if we are to have Faith all things will be made possible and we will see the Lord’s hand in our lives daily. Thank you all for everything and I love you all. Have a good week and I will talk to Yáll next week!
Love,
Elder Callister
Sunday, February 28, 2016
Saturday, February 13, 2016
A new Chapter in the Mission
Editor's (Mom's) Note:
In his mission, when a missionary is brand new to the mission they call it being 'born', so all new missionaries are referred to as 'babies'. :)
Well my comp Elder Arancibia left to go home to his house in Santiago....and I have no clue who my next comp will be, because he will be "born" on Wednesday! I will be heading up to Concepción tomorrow to go start my training. It´s going to be super fun! We have 4 people in the zone that are training so we have a zone of pure "babies" in the mission!
This week was crazy/interesting. My comp was getting ready to leave the mission and go see his family. It was hard to stay on topic at times but we got through and finished. He is a great missionary and will do great things after the mission!
One thing that I learned this week was that humility is hard. Naturally we are not very humble. Whether it be big or small, we are human and need to continually learn to try and be humble in all things. One thing that has stood out to me was that a great way to learn to be humble is to simply put yourself in others shoes. Many times we go through life assuming others feel one way or act another way only coming to find out that we were completely wrong. Listening to and teaching our investigators has been a really good example. They don´t understand everything that we are teaching them and that is why we are there. Sometimes we think that they understand or that they SHOULD understand because, to you, it is so clear. But in reality we sometimes need to sit back, think about the situation and see how your actions can help to change the circumstance. I have seen how when humility and patience is applied, miracles happen. People open up and you can really see the hand of the Lord work in your life. I love the Saviors example in humility and I want to continue following His example every day.
I love you all and hope that you all can make it a goal in your lives to continue in the path of the Lord. I know it will bless your life. It has always blessed mine. I hope all goes well this week and may the Spirit be with you.
Love,
Elder Callister
Quidditch in Chile...with a pig!?!
Sorry for not writing last week! We had no time because we had to return from Temuco and work! BUT......we played Quidditch.....and it was amazing.....and the best part....the Snitch....was a pig.....and we won!!!! Woooo!!!! Haha it was so awesome and our zone had such a fun time. We ate all you can eat Chinese buffet after and that totally topped it off!
Friday, February 5, 2016
Baptism!
This week was the best! Diego went all the way under and all the way out. He is now baptized and is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He is so happy and is loving every second of being in the church and living the gospel. I want to bear testimony and explain the truthfulness of this gospel and the power and authority given from God to do this work. I know that this church is true and that this incredible child of God was able to be baptized through the Holy power and authority of the Priesthood of God: the right to act in the name of God. I testify that this authority has been restored to the earth again through his holy prophet and servant Joseph Smith through heavenly servants of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is the restored Gospel. I cannot deny it. I know that through this power and authority, we will live with our Families, our Savior and our Father in Heaven again. His hands are stretched out to us; all we have to do is reach out to Him and accept it.
Love,
Elder Callister
Sunday, January 24, 2016
Good news!!
Hey Yáll!
This week was so awesome! We passed the inspection.....after cleaning the whole entire day!! We didn´t get to go work because it had to be done that night and the house had been growing very nasty things in cracks and crevices for quite some time now. So we got to clean it up...yay!!
We were on fire with trying to get Diego going with the rest of the lessons. We had one lesson with him on Saturday and taught him about the commandments. He wants to follow the commandments, but as well the example of Jesus Christ and be BAPTIZED THIS SATURDAY!!!! Yaaaaaaaay!!! We are all so excited for him and can´t wait for him to have this beautiful experience! He is the best in the world and I love the guy like crazy! The work is going great and we are working like crazy. I love you all and know that through the Spirit we can really feel God´s love for us. Diego has felt it and I know he will continue to feel it for the rest of his life. I love you all! Have a great week!
Love,
Elder Callister
This week was so awesome! We passed the inspection.....after cleaning the whole entire day!! We didn´t get to go work because it had to be done that night and the house had been growing very nasty things in cracks and crevices for quite some time now. So we got to clean it up...yay!!
We were on fire with trying to get Diego going with the rest of the lessons. We had one lesson with him on Saturday and taught him about the commandments. He wants to follow the commandments, but as well the example of Jesus Christ and be BAPTIZED THIS SATURDAY!!!! Yaaaaaaaay!!! We are all so excited for him and can´t wait for him to have this beautiful experience! He is the best in the world and I love the guy like crazy! The work is going great and we are working like crazy. I love you all and know that through the Spirit we can really feel God´s love for us. Diego has felt it and I know he will continue to feel it for the rest of his life. I love you all! Have a great week!
Love,
Elder Callister
Apartment Inspections and Futbol
Hey Yáll!
I don´t have a ton of time to write today. We have a short time to write because we have to get ready for a house inspection. Yay!!! But anyway, we just got back from Victoria and we had such a fun time with the zone! We played Fútbol and did a bunch of other games the Sister Missionaries prepared for us, and then it ended with a huge lunch the Sisters also prepared for us! Fue Buenísimo!!! I just love the spiritual, loving, and fun atmosphere here and I am so glad that I get to share it with amazing people in Chile!!!
I love you all so much and I pray for you every day! Thank you for your continuous love and letters and everything! I hope all is well this week and that the Spirit may be with you wherever you go!
Love,
Elder Callister
p.s. The tape all over my shoes are from my shoes completely ripped down the side after trying to steal the ball from another elder.....it completely exploded....
I don´t have a ton of time to write today. We have a short time to write because we have to get ready for a house inspection. Yay!!! But anyway, we just got back from Victoria and we had such a fun time with the zone! We played Fútbol and did a bunch of other games the Sister Missionaries prepared for us, and then it ended with a huge lunch the Sisters also prepared for us! Fue Buenísimo!!! I just love the spiritual, loving, and fun atmosphere here and I am so glad that I get to share it with amazing people in Chile!!!
I love you all so much and I pray for you every day! Thank you for your continuous love and letters and everything! I hope all is well this week and that the Spirit may be with you wherever you go!
Love,
Elder Callister
p.s. The tape all over my shoes are from my shoes completely ripped down the side after trying to steal the ball from another elder.....it completely exploded....
Monday, January 4, 2016
The Secret of Happiness
Hey guys!
This week was a blast! We had such a fun time during New Year’s. We were able to go and cook in the Church after 8 and then head home to celebrate the rest of the night. I cooked orange chicken and chocolate chip cookies for the Elders in the house and we ate like kings! We also had the best nap in the world the next day which made me very happy :)
We have an investigator named Diego and he is the best in the WORLD!!!! He has a date to be baptized on the 23rd and he is loving the lessons so much! He came to church the last couple weeks and he is finding more and more about how the gospel is blessing his life! Yay for the Gospel!!!!
It´s so good to hear that you guys are having so much fun and have these amazing New Year’s goals. I love hearing that my family is trying each and every day to become better in some way. I think it is so cool the way that you are starting your fasts now. It really gets you in the spirit to fast and think about the things that you will be fasting for. Our fasting is a bit different. Because we don´t have dinner here, we start right after lunch on Saturday. It is really hard especially during summer. It is hot, humid, and we have to work in it all day Saturday without food or water. But that has been a real testimony builder to me during the mission. I have felt strength from the Lord while I am out working to get through and not have to worry about eating or drinking. I really truly testify that without fail you can and will always be able to fast however long you need to as long as you are doing it with the right attitude. That includes, being happy about it and thinking about the things you are fasting for, spending time in the scriptures, praying and nearing yourself to God in any way possible. He will put His efforts with yours. I was fasting this week for you guys actually and for the spirit to guide you all in your paths. I don´t know exactly what it going on with everyone but I know that there are good times and hard times still at home.
I have had some really neat experiences with the guidance of the spirit this week. There is no way I would be able to grow and learn without it. With this New Year we are all making goals to better ourselves as a family and I know that with this guidance of the spirit we can do anything we put our mind to.
One of my goals for this New Year starts with a smile. Yes that is right: BEING HAPPY! Seriously, that is the key to getting though anything. Choosing happiness. Here on the mission, you can go from having 3 baptismal dates, 4 new investigators, and appointments every hour ...to 0 dates, fallen investigators, and all appts. canceled in about a day....the question is, how you are going to react to that. There are 2 options, option A: be mad, and complain, or Option B: look at everything that can go good from it and how you can fix the problem. There is always a choice. I have learned very fast the outcomes of both decisions and I can tell you right now that option B is the way to go. There is a talk that I read this last week that I love so much. I found it in the Liahona. It was talking all about how you can achieve this state of happiness and help others around you to feel it too. It is by Henry B. Eyring and it is called Happiness For the Ones You Love. I would definitely read it if you guys have time.
I would just like to say that I love you so much and I am so glad and grateful for you prayers and fasting. I have felt your strength and have felt your love. Don´t ever forget that I am always praying for you. Thank you for everything and I hope you all have an amazing week! Ciao!
Love,
Elder Callister
This week was a blast! We had such a fun time during New Year’s. We were able to go and cook in the Church after 8 and then head home to celebrate the rest of the night. I cooked orange chicken and chocolate chip cookies for the Elders in the house and we ate like kings! We also had the best nap in the world the next day which made me very happy :)
We have an investigator named Diego and he is the best in the WORLD!!!! He has a date to be baptized on the 23rd and he is loving the lessons so much! He came to church the last couple weeks and he is finding more and more about how the gospel is blessing his life! Yay for the Gospel!!!!
It´s so good to hear that you guys are having so much fun and have these amazing New Year’s goals. I love hearing that my family is trying each and every day to become better in some way. I think it is so cool the way that you are starting your fasts now. It really gets you in the spirit to fast and think about the things that you will be fasting for. Our fasting is a bit different. Because we don´t have dinner here, we start right after lunch on Saturday. It is really hard especially during summer. It is hot, humid, and we have to work in it all day Saturday without food or water. But that has been a real testimony builder to me during the mission. I have felt strength from the Lord while I am out working to get through and not have to worry about eating or drinking. I really truly testify that without fail you can and will always be able to fast however long you need to as long as you are doing it with the right attitude. That includes, being happy about it and thinking about the things you are fasting for, spending time in the scriptures, praying and nearing yourself to God in any way possible. He will put His efforts with yours. I was fasting this week for you guys actually and for the spirit to guide you all in your paths. I don´t know exactly what it going on with everyone but I know that there are good times and hard times still at home.
I have had some really neat experiences with the guidance of the spirit this week. There is no way I would be able to grow and learn without it. With this New Year we are all making goals to better ourselves as a family and I know that with this guidance of the spirit we can do anything we put our mind to.
One of my goals for this New Year starts with a smile. Yes that is right: BEING HAPPY! Seriously, that is the key to getting though anything. Choosing happiness. Here on the mission, you can go from having 3 baptismal dates, 4 new investigators, and appointments every hour ...to 0 dates, fallen investigators, and all appts. canceled in about a day....the question is, how you are going to react to that. There are 2 options, option A: be mad, and complain, or Option B: look at everything that can go good from it and how you can fix the problem. There is always a choice. I have learned very fast the outcomes of both decisions and I can tell you right now that option B is the way to go. There is a talk that I read this last week that I love so much. I found it in the Liahona. It was talking all about how you can achieve this state of happiness and help others around you to feel it too. It is by Henry B. Eyring and it is called Happiness For the Ones You Love. I would definitely read it if you guys have time.
I would just like to say that I love you so much and I am so glad and grateful for you prayers and fasting. I have felt your strength and have felt your love. Don´t ever forget that I am always praying for you. Thank you for everything and I hope you all have an amazing week! Ciao!
Love,
Elder Callister
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