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
Sunday, January 24, 2016
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
Monday, December 28, 2015
Happy New Year from Chile
Hello everyone!
This week was absolutely crazy! We had so much to do during the week. First of all it was Christmas and we also had a branch conference to prepare for. When that happens we are doing activities all during the week. So all of that is added on to the work that we normally do. We had no time to do anthing extra. Becase we had so many activities we felt like we had a lot of time wasted. But that is just how Christmas week goes. We had a really good time talking about the things we could do better as a companionship so that we could help others even more. One of the biggest things was just to always look at the bright side. When people see that we are optimistic they will want to go help too. We had a few times during the week that were a bit "down in the dumps". We realized very quickly that when our attitude was down everything else and everyone else around us was pulled down with us. The mission is not easy and it is so easy to fall into this trap, but I know and testify that as we are pushing through with faith we know that God will fill in the rest and put His strength with our efforts, we can and will receive all the blessings from everything that we do.
The other thing I have realized during my whole mission is that love is the strongest and most powerful thing anyone could ever have. The reason that I came out on a mission was to learn to love others as Christ does. Love to your companion, to your friends, family and especially to your Father in Heaven. The way that we show this love is through service to others. The happiness that comes from service is the greatest in the world and each and every one of us has the opportunity to experience it too. Yesterday we were out to go give the Sacrament to two people who were very old and not doing so well in their health. Before we went I was just thinking to myself why we had to do this and why couldn’t someone else in the ward do it. It was far and we had other plans in mind. Then the spirit hit my like a load of bricks and told me to go and do it anyway, but do it with a smile. So we went and visited with them. The whole time I didn´t even think about anything else because I felt so much love for these people. They are children of God and each and every one of us is here to serve and love one another.
This work has changed my life so much and my gratitude goes to my family, friends and my Heavenly Father. Thank you so much for your examples and for the love you have for one another. I hope all goes well this week and that you are able to share this love with someone. Much love from Chile!
Love,
Elder Callister
This week was absolutely crazy! We had so much to do during the week. First of all it was Christmas and we also had a branch conference to prepare for. When that happens we are doing activities all during the week. So all of that is added on to the work that we normally do. We had no time to do anthing extra. Becase we had so many activities we felt like we had a lot of time wasted. But that is just how Christmas week goes. We had a really good time talking about the things we could do better as a companionship so that we could help others even more. One of the biggest things was just to always look at the bright side. When people see that we are optimistic they will want to go help too. We had a few times during the week that were a bit "down in the dumps". We realized very quickly that when our attitude was down everything else and everyone else around us was pulled down with us. The mission is not easy and it is so easy to fall into this trap, but I know and testify that as we are pushing through with faith we know that God will fill in the rest and put His strength with our efforts, we can and will receive all the blessings from everything that we do.
The other thing I have realized during my whole mission is that love is the strongest and most powerful thing anyone could ever have. The reason that I came out on a mission was to learn to love others as Christ does. Love to your companion, to your friends, family and especially to your Father in Heaven. The way that we show this love is through service to others. The happiness that comes from service is the greatest in the world and each and every one of us has the opportunity to experience it too. Yesterday we were out to go give the Sacrament to two people who were very old and not doing so well in their health. Before we went I was just thinking to myself why we had to do this and why couldn’t someone else in the ward do it. It was far and we had other plans in mind. Then the spirit hit my like a load of bricks and told me to go and do it anyway, but do it with a smile. So we went and visited with them. The whole time I didn´t even think about anything else because I felt so much love for these people. They are children of God and each and every one of us is here to serve and love one another.
This work has changed my life so much and my gratitude goes to my family, friends and my Heavenly Father. Thank you so much for your examples and for the love you have for one another. I hope all goes well this week and that you are able to share this love with someone. Much love from Chile!
Love,
Elder Callister
The Cherry Picking Elders of Traiguen
Once upon a time, two Elders in the city of Triaguén were walking down the street with much hunger and pain. they had been walking for hours and had accumulated many blisters on their feet.
With the heat of the hot summer sun and injuries they were becoming weaker and weaker, until something dropped on Elder Arancibia´s head. He looked down and found that it was a bright, red, juicy cherry. They looked up in excitement to find a giant cherry tree with plenty of cherries to satisfy their hunger.
They began to pick like mad men and gather as many cherries as possible. They had picked all the cherries they could reach, but saw that there was so much more beyond their reach. They had to think of a way to get them....Then Elder Callister threw a roundhouse kick to the gut of the tree and many cherries fell down.
But it wasn´t enough.....they had to use their heads somehow....so Elder Arancibia came out of nowhere with a Rhinoceros Attack to the tree and all the cherries came tumbling down.
They were saved and the hunger was satisfied. they returned to the house after work with their tummies full and full of happiness. But then all of a sudden they quickly began to the see the side effects of the Wild fruit. They had not just picked random cherries from a tree, they were in fact beard growing cherries.....Elder Callister And Elder Arancibia were stuck with eternal dope beards and could do nothing about it. But they were content.....because they are dope.
The End
With the heat of the hot summer sun and injuries they were becoming weaker and weaker, until something dropped on Elder Arancibia´s head. He looked down and found that it was a bright, red, juicy cherry. They looked up in excitement to find a giant cherry tree with plenty of cherries to satisfy their hunger.
They began to pick like mad men and gather as many cherries as possible. They had picked all the cherries they could reach, but saw that there was so much more beyond their reach. They had to think of a way to get them....Then Elder Callister threw a roundhouse kick to the gut of the tree and many cherries fell down.
But it wasn´t enough.....they had to use their heads somehow....so Elder Arancibia came out of nowhere with a Rhinoceros Attack to the tree and all the cherries came tumbling down.
They were saved and the hunger was satisfied. they returned to the house after work with their tummies full and full of happiness. But then all of a sudden they quickly began to the see the side effects of the Wild fruit. They had not just picked random cherries from a tree, they were in fact beard growing cherries.....Elder Callister And Elder Arancibia were stuck with eternal dope beards and could do nothing about it. But they were content.....because they are dope.
The End
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Transfers to a new area!
Hey Yáll!
So this week was a travel week. We were running all around the mission all week. First we had a zone attack in Los Ángeles, and then we went to the Christmas conference where the whole entire mission was and partied there! Then we went back to Los Angeles, then to Concepción for a medical appt. and finally back to Laja. BUT, I am no longer going to be here in Laja. We just got cambios (transfers) this morning and I found out that I will be leaving to my new sector, Traiguén. I will be with my new comp se llama, Elder Arrancibia. He is from Chile but has spent some time in the U.S. (Utah to be exact). So the dude totally knows English too! I am super excited for this cambio and I know that I will learn a lot from all the changes that are going to happen.
One thing I wanted to share with you guys was something I read today in my personal study. I was reading in Alma 8 and 9 about how Alma was commanded to return to preach to the people of Ammonihah. He explains to the people that they are a wicked people and that they must repent or they would be destroyed. He tells them that if they would not repent it would be more tolerant for the Lamanites sufferings compared to what they would suffer because they have already been given the truth and fullness of the gospel but then rejected it. The message from this story is that we all have a knowledge of the truth. Therefore we must in our duty, strive to continue in the ways of the Lord. We cannot suffer to become lazy and forget the truths of the gospel. Therefore, if we are willing to live the gospel, we must now help all others to receive it as well. I challenge you all to study these chapters this week and see how it can be applied to your life.
I love you all and hope you all have a great time this week getting ready for Christmas!
Love,
Elder Callister
Mini Golf - Chilean Style
Hey Yáll!
It is so awesome to hear from you guys and all the awesome things you are doing back in the states! We just got back from Los Angeles from playing mini golf with the rest of the guys. It was the most ghetto minigolf place I had ever seen. It was just concrete slabs in the middle of a bunch of crab grass. Then I thought to myself, oh wait, We´re in Chile. It was still fun and we bought a ton of ice cream after!!
Many of you had the question of, how in the heck did I make an Oreo pie in Chile. Well may I introduce you to the Store Lider AKA Chilean Walmart!!! It´s the best, but the closest one is in Los Angeles (an hour away by bus). So the past couple weeks we had been there for our P day, hanging out with the other dudes in the zone, so I picked up some Oreo´s (all crushed from being shipped 10,000 km from the US) and some Great Value Peanut butter, though it was not the cheapest in the world. TOTALLY worth it though! It basically gave me diabetes.
This week was pretty good as far as the work goes. We had a ton of plans to be working with the members. This is part of our goals for this next cambio. We are trying to get more member help in the lessons because that is one of the best ways for people to progress. If you ever have the chance to work with the missionaries, DO IT!! It is the best!!!!
I love you all and hope you are doing amazing! Continue being awesome and I will talk to you later!
Ciao!
Love,
Elder Callister
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