January 5, 2015

Dear Blog,

Happy New Year!

Not much new here in Idaho. The snow keeps falling and then melting then falling again. The weather is not bad a little cold at nights but that is about it.

The work slowed down for the holidays but will be picking back up soon. I am really excited to really get back to work and "teach and preach the word of God." I have been going through a talk given by Elder David A Bednar "Seek Learning by Faith." I would suggest it to all those who would like to understand how to better learn, whether it is doctrinal or not the Spirit can teach us all things.

I guess those are my thoughts for this week.

Elder McCallson

December 29, 2014

Dear fantastic person,

This week was awesome! Christmas and all. It was nice to meet so many new people. Our only problem was that all the people we visited and their family members that we there were all members. I guess that is how it goes sometimes. The rest of the week went by really fast. I can't believe how fast time is going when you really "forget yourself and go to work." It has really inspired me to not loose my "greenie glow" as we call it in the mission. I am really excited to see how this next week will go.

I guess something most people like to give missionaries is socks. I now have enough to last till the end of my mission. I hope. I also found that being a missionary is awesome! People just invite you over and give you food just because. I guess I realized that if everyone did this throughout the year that there would be no starvation.

What did I learn this week... that is interesting. I found that God really does answer prayers and is watching over all of us. Please remember to pray and look for His hand in your life as you move forward.

What did I want to do before the end of the year... I really just wanted to work hard. I guess before the end of the year I wanted to help at least one person progress towards their Father in Heaven. I accomplished that.

I have found out that I am a really bad conversationalist. Meaning I am running out of things to write home about. I need questions from you the reader to know what more to write.

Ask and ye shall receive; knock and it shall be open unto you.

God bless your path,

Elder McCallson

December 22, 2014

Dear.....,

This last week was really good. We were able to teach quite a few people and help others start to find their way home.

There is not much to report. No snow but I hear we may have a white Christmas. We will see.

I am really excited to have it this year. It is interesting how different people are and how much more kind they are even to us missionaries. I feel blessed for growing up in a community that didn't have as many anti-Mormon feelings as Idaho has.

I guess it just goes to show that you need a strong testimony and firm beliefs if you are going to be a member of the Church. I hope all of you are remembering the Gift and how important He is to all of us.

This upcoming week is going to be awesome. I am really excited to see what blessing and miracles will come from such a united faith in Christ on the Earth.

God bless us, Everyone!

I am so excited for all of you. And know there are many blessing awaiting you. Remember to ask for them. There are many things you can learn just by inviting the Spirit into your day.

Love,
Elder McCallson

 

                                          Missionary Christmas Devotional

                                                 Santa and Two Missionaries

                                       gas prices in Idaho

 

December 15, 2014

Dear those who split and those who stayed,

I just heard the wonderful news! The ward grew so much that we had to have a division made. I am going to miss all those that had to move to the other ward but I look forward to seeing all of you when I return.

Christmas is quickly approaching. Did you think of the missionaries? Christmas day and eve are non- proselyting days and they need things to keep them busy. Also have you looked up Christmas.Mormon.Org? It is awesome. Remember #SharetheGift.

There is a lot of awesome progress being made here in Boise. I am really excited for this next six weeks. I am still in the same area. Six months I will be here. I am really looking forward to all the help I can give before I leave.

I have made a lot of good friends. It is fun to be able to make friends with people I probably never would have before my mission. I guess it just goes to show how judgmental I was before my mission.

Anyways I am really looking forward to all the blessings that you will receive this month. Please remember to let me know too.

It is odd to think that before my mission I hardly wrote to other missionaries but now that I am on mine I can't believe how much strength and encouragement letters from home are. My address is

1111 S Cole Rd

Boise Idaho 83704

Please send me letters so I can write you back.

Love,

Elder McCallson

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