December 8, 2014

Hello,

This week has been awesome. We have had so much to do and not enough time to do it all.

On Friday I had the opportunity to see one of my investigators enter the waters of Baptism and be confirmed a member of the Church on Sunday. It has been amazing to see all the changes that have occurred in her life and the life of her family, as she has brought her life into harmony with the Lord. I am really looking forward to all the wonderful blessings that they will receive in the Temple as they move closer, as a family, to the Lord.

We have had many blessing this week in regard to the Less-Active members of the Church. Several of them have expressed desires to come back to Church and have reached out to us so we can help them relearn what they knew.

It has been fair weathered this last week. A few days we had a little rain. Nothing like the awe-inspiring storms of Kansas. Which is kind of a bummer to me. But, hey, the weather pattern is about the same...wait 5 minutes and the weather will change.

Most other things have been going well. I would assume all of you by now have heard of the "He is the Gift" initiative that the Church is doing. They have bought an advertising space in Time Square for the month and the advertising head on YouTube (I don't know how long).

It has been a great way for us to talk to people; especially this time of the year. I would ask each of you to hand on the pass-along cards that came with the Ensign; if you don't get the Ensign you should. But really it is on Christmas.Mormon.Org.

Discover the Gift: Learn about Christ

Embrace the Gift: Gaining that testimony that He is our Savior and Redeemer.

Share the Gift: Get on social media sites post the video on the website using #SharetheGift

Remember the true relevance of the Lord's birth and share your testimony with those around you and you will be blessed.

I love you all and look forward to seeing you again,

Elder McCallson

                                           Emily(Baptizee) and Mark (Baptizer)

                                       
                                          This address followed me... :P

 

December 3, 2014

Dear Blog,

Thanksgiving was good. We only really made it to two homes. Our Bishop's and someone else's. No ham on thanksgiving. Only TURKEY.

I think the worst part was no one sent us home with left overs. The two were good though. I was thoroughly filled. That's okay I think the Lord might be trying to help me lose weight.

Our P-Day is today (Wed) because we were able to go to the Temple and we have no food at the apartment. Funny how that works.

I have been really excited to do family history work these last few weeks, we have become good friends with our wards family history consultants, now I am hooked.

It has been interesting to see the difference in how much temple work I did before my mission and how much I want to do now that I am on it. I have found that the old saying is true. "You don't know what you got till it's gone." I guess that one is not too old but hey give me some credit.

I am so excited to hear that you are being blessed with the wonderfully cold weather. It hasn't been too cold here, it only dipped twice into the negatives. But, I am told that we will not get too much snow or anything like that on this side of the mountains. Now if I was in Eastern Idaho it would be a different story.

It has been interesting to meet people up here that know some of you down there.

The work has really been picking up here with the Church's new "He is the Gift" initiative. We have yet to see any results in my area but others have already had some progress.

I am so excited for the Christmas Season and look forward to hearing all your wonderful tales of Christmas Miracles.

Love,

Elder McCallson    

November 24, 2014

Dear Friends,

This week has been amazing for us. There are so many blessings that we have been seeing turn up this last week.

We have run into a few people that really don't like the church, but that is to be expected. Where the church is big the opposition is too.

All the snow has about melted. Most people say it is odd to have snow before Thanksgiving especially 8 inches. But, I love the snow so I am fine with it.

So many people have been emailing me and it is awesome to hear all the stories of blessings that are coming.

There is work to do and who better than the members to do it. Even though I have been set apart as a missionary it is all of your responsibility to find people for the missionaries. Yes we do that too but the church study shows 1 in 10,000 houses knocked results in a convert but 1 in 3 friends taught in a members home results in a convert.

I feel bad for all the time I had free and didn't help move the work along. The last days are coming and there is still work to do.

I love all of you and keep you in my prayers,

Elder McCallson

                                                       Art in Snow

                                                  Coral       (fast-freezing slush)

                                                   kind of pretty

 

 

November 17, 2014

Dear People,

I am so glad for the Gospel this week. It has been a huge blessing to me and helping me come closer to my Father in Heaven.

I hope all of you work are to understand how much the Lord and our Heavenly Father love each and every one of us.

The week was crazy 26 hours of continuous snow left walking a chore..

I know that all is well and hope to hear from you,

Elder McCallson

                                                         Lots of Leaves

                                                    After we bagged them

                                                         It started snowing

                                                     Snowplow mess

 

 

November 10, 2014

Happy Birthday Grandpa Gene! Happy Birthday Grandma Ilene (on Wed)!

Dear Reader,

Everything is Awesome! Well almost. There are a lot of changes in how Salt Lake is training us to teach. But, it is more effective than the way we did it before. I would ask all of you to read Preach My Gospel and to apply the principles. They are more than just for missionaries. In a talk given by Elder Holland, he said "Preach My Gospel is to convert the missionary, then it is their job to figure out how to help convert others." The same goes for all of you.

It has been getting colder each morning here but with the sun it is beautiful.

Idaho is just as good as most people told me it would be.

Love,

Elder McCallson

 

                                         Just Remember This!

 

                                          Politics in the Mission Field







 

       People say I'm not in Kansas anymore, but with cows in the middle of town, it feels like Olathe

 

November 3, 2014

This week has been a great one. With Halloween and finding 2 new investigators, we have kicked this new week out with a bang. I am so grateful for all you at home who are writing me... the rest of you need to pick up the slack. But, I can see that life is busy. I mean how can I chastise you if I didn't do it before my mission.

Transfers were today and I have a new companion, Elder Lee. Sorry I forgot my camera at home today, because we lost our car. Those Sister missionaries. :P

But, all is well right now. Work is slowly picking up in our area and we are having more opportunities to share the gospel and reactivate children of our Heavenly Father. The members have really started to help us as well. It is awesome when we have members that are willing to do missionary work instead of expecting us to do it all.

I love you all and know that I will be amazed when I return home on how big the ward is or to hear that it split while I was away. Right?!

Love,

Elder McCallson

October 27, 2014

To whom it may concern,

I am so grateful for this opportunity to write you this week. Quite a bit has happened and quite a lot has changed. It has been a tough week. But, I am happy that I have this gospel. Without all the knowledge I can obtain it would be depressing. I would exhort all of you with all the energy of my soul to take a look at how much of this gospel you truly understand. I would like you to write down what you know. Then from there, gain more. "Do you have time for God?"

I know that as you work hard to understand the doctrine better, revelation will come. In fact, you are entitled to revelation. Just look at the Brother of Jared. It said his faith was so great that he could not, not will not or should not, but could not be held within the veil.

We as humans put stipulations on revelation, saying it has to be God's will or I just don't need to know. That is one of the Devil's best lies...because almost everyone believes it.

Please remember we have a loving Heavenly Father who wants us to know everything he does and is just waiting for us to seek for it.

I love you all and hope you remember to thank God for all you have,

Elder McCallson

                                        Good Eating

 

                                        Awesome album cover

                                         Boise's Capitol  Building

                                         I RULE!

          Man, That game is so important, it has say I the Idaho Senate!

                                         LET FREEDOM RING!

                                         Halloween is Awesome!