October 20, 2014

Hello Kansans and all others that may check this!

It has been a really good week! Not much has changed except the leaves; which is a great way for missionaries to find people to teach. Keep up on helping them stay busy. I know you can do it.

With Halloween and  Truck or Treat coming up please invite your friends to come. The missionaries will probably not be there. In our mission we have to be in by 6 that night. But, ours doesn't start till 6:30 so that's a bummer.

Keep in mind those less actives in the ward that may have a talent or gift you could have them use during the festivities. The ward I am in had 205 less active households. Yes households; not people. But, we have asked a few of them to help out with Trunk or Treat and they said they would. So, it works.

Please make sure you are reading and praying every night. It is more important now than ever to draw nearer to our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ through the Holy Ghost.

I know you are all amazing missionaries and want to help the work to progress.

Love,

Elder McCallson

 

 

                                                                Scary Pumpkin pics

 

                                                       Beautiful skies in Idaho  

October 13, 2014

Dear Members,

My week has been awesome. With conference to rebuild morale of the missionaries, the work has moved forward better this last week than ever. We are excited to see how many more the Lord is helping to prepare. I hope you are all looking for people to invite. If nothing else watch Elder Bednar's talk again. It was awesome.

I can't wait to see how much the ward has grown when I get home... It will grow right?!

Just remember the Lord is preparing people. The only questions is...will you help them move forward.

Elder McCallson

October 6, 2014

DEAR READER,

Here are some ideas on how you can share news about "Meet the Mormons";

Let them know that all proceeds are going to Red Cross.

This is not a doctrinal movie, it is letting people know that we are humans too.

Extend an invitation, I have learned that success is in the invitation.

This is a wonderful time to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. With General Conference available for reviewing I would exhort you with all the energies of my soul to feast upon the words of Christ. Most of you will probably read this and think, "He is just a missionary extending another invitation." You are right. I am a Missionary. I have been called of God to gather his lambs and sheep. All need to be closer to Christ as we progress ever closer to the Second Coming of the Lord.

Please invite your friends to come closer. Start basic. Share your testimony, ask them to pray about problems they are having. Work with them so that one day when the missionaries ask "Who do you know who would be interested in and benefit from this message?" You can give them a name of another child of God you have been helping come closer to Christ.

Brothers and Sisters, we are just that, our purpose as members of the Church is to share our knowledge and add upon the knowledge that others have. An invitation is a successful missionary experience.

I love you all,

Elder McCallson

 

                                 Changing up the Diet (even on a mission I am taking it :P)

 

September 29, 2014

Friends, Kansans, Country Men lend me your ears...

Not really cause you might need both of them. It is beautiful up here is Idaho. The weather is getting cooler and I am excited for Fall and Winter.

I am told that because I am on this side of the mountains I will only receive about 3-5 inches of snow in the winter months. This causes me a degree of sadness as I will miss the snow and ice in Kansas.

The work is still pushing along as we are trying to contact people in our ward.

Keep up the faith and remember "God be with you till we meet again."

Love,

Elder McCallson

PS. Happy Birthday Zach!

September 22, 2014

Hello Brothers and Sisters,

Have I told you I love you lately? Well I do. I always wondered why missionaries say it so much and when they get back they are so moved by people they see. I guess I understand why now.

6 weeks have flown by here in the field. First transfer is over most of us in our district stayed the same. So not much new to report on that.

I have decided I hate paper work. I never liked it in school and I really don't like it here. But, if I am going to be the best missionary (I can be), I will have to do it.

To all those asking about how many potatoes I have eaten. The answer is not much. Because everyone else thinks that others are feeding us meat and potatoes. We have pasta or Mexican most dinners. I have though had the opportunity to have Rabbit Stew, and Elk. They were both really good.

Keep up the work, "We are all enlisted till the conflict is o'er"

Love

Elder McCallson

                                                  PIC: Yes we are just that cool!

 

September 15, 2014

HELLO FROM A LITTLE TOWN CALLED BOISE,

"What more can he say than to you he has said." As I search the Holy Scriptures I find that I have so much to work on. I know that people have told me this since I was young but it never really hit me until I came out here.

This last week was probably the slowest on my mission. But, with the plans we have for this next week we may have more work and ever before. It's funny how that happens.

I hope you are all treating the Missionaries well back there. Because if you are not.... I can't really do anything. But, just treat them well.

We just had our Stake Conference. It was awesome! It was all about families. I wrote down this question. Who is our family? Now with this there are several answers that you can rattle of the top of your head, but, I really want you to think about it.

Keep those you love in mind.

Love,

Elder McCallson

PS. Please tell me because I cant tell if the members love us or not....

 

Can you spot Jacob among this CHIP HEAVEN?!

September 8, 2014

Hello reader,

All is well with me. The weather is cool and refreshing. The work has been a little slow as of late, but I know it will pick up soon. Stake Conference is coming up for me and it will be different not being there with my family. I hope you all enjoyed yours.

There is much you can learn from listening to the Holy Ghost's promptings. I know that sounds like a broken record, but having the opportunity to guide me, always, is a nice treat. Everyday during my personal study something new in the scriptures comes to life.

I would exhort all of you to look at the different Christ-like attributes in the scriptures and pick one a week to study, ponder, and apply. It will greatly increase your faith and testimony of this latter-day work.

Please find someone in your path this next week to share your testimony with, whether it is a member or non-member. I know you will help your testimony grow when you do.

I love you all,

Elder McCallson

This first picture is of Elder Sellers and me eating a dish called Natto which in Japanese culture is good but, it is fermented soy beans... so please share that one with Craig I think he will enjoy it.

The second is of my precious Chipotle.... I FOUND ONE!!! I nearly cried when I saw it as we were driving past.
The last is of my district at the Temple.