February 23,2015

    This week was good. Our Priests (young men ages 16-18) did a "mini mission". We set up appointments with people we are teaching and let them go out, two by two, and they taught very well, I might add.

     Service, Service, and more Service. I think I may get more tan being on my mission than even before.

     I never truly appreciated the hard work that comes with working with my hands until it is the only thing you can do to change up a day that seems the same as the ones previous. Remember Mosiah 2:17:  And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.

     There are powerful blessings that come from service. Some are only obtained through losing yourself in the service of others. Please, if you are feeling down and out or if you know not what to do, serve those around you and you will feel and know what you have been searching for.

 

Elder McCallson

February 17, 2015

Blog:

    This week not much happened. I just realized all the things we have the opportunity to do to reach members. Look at the pics if you want to know what I am talking about.

    We had a wonderful Zone Conference and I was chosen to give a talk. It was hard mostly because I just get uncomfortable speaking in front of so many people. But I know that I am getting over it. This time my mind didn't go blank like it usually does. I was still shaking so bad I couldn't read what I wrote or turn the page as fast as I would like to.

    Other than that, I just have to keep learning patience. I found that maybe the Lord is trying to teach me that as I am working to come closer to Him and understand His will. There is a plan for everyone, a plan that will help you be happy and we are the only ones that thwart the plan and cause bumps. Yes, there are people who can throw things your way and make it seem as though there is little hope, but know that the Lord and our Heavenly Father are always watching out for us.

I love you all,

Elder McCallson

 

                                                   Over the River

                                                  Through the Woods

                                                   Up Hills...Both Ways

                                                  So Many Geese

 

February 9, 2015

Blog:

Hey, you there, sitting reading this message. You should pat your head and rub your stomach.

    

    This week was great. We had the opportunity to go to the Temple and feel of the Spirit that is there. It is amazing to me to see how much difference there is in how I view the Temple. There is great work to be done.

     For those of you who are not members that read this blog, the Temple is the House of the Lord on the earth. It is a place where those who are worthy go and make promises to God to be faithful and obedient to the commandments He had given us. We don't hold Sunday meetings there. Those buildings that we do meet in on Sundays are called Meeting Houses.

    This week was full of walking, riding, and walking. Something that we are not allowed to do is ride horses. But, I wish we could in this area. Just about every farm here has at least 2-3 horses walking the land. I think I will ask my mission president about it.

   

    There is something important that I want you to commit to do for yourself right now - this very moment you are reading. I want you to think! I want you to wonder and ponder on how you can help you and your family become better. Now with that thought... I want you to think of a way that you can do it. I want you to become the best person you can and the best family you can so that others will want to know what makes you, YOU!  This is something that I have been doing as I have been reflecting on how can I have others ask what makes me different. Other than wearing a suit and tie everywhere and have a name tag... What about me do people want to know why I am that way.

I know that you will come to find things in your life that will help you change to become better.

In the words of Walt Disney: "Keep Moving Forward"

 

Elder McCallson
                                          My MTC District together again

                                         Me and Shawn

 

February 2, 2015

Dear Reader,

     This new area is awesome. Hard, but good. There are days when we have next to nothing to do because the ward is so active; they have reached out to the Less Active members, or the fact that if you aren't a member you know one who is and you are content. It has been an awesome experience for me to learn patience. I know that it was inspired by my Mission President to send me here.

     Who knows when I get done with this area I may even have a six pack..... or not. Food is awesome.

     Sorry there are no pictures this week I left my camera charger at my last apartment and just got it today. So hopefully by next Monday I will have some to send home of all the wonderful emptiness that is my area. No but really, everyone out here owns land. On the land are these four basic things, horses, dogs, trucks, and guns. The last one you don't really see but I know they have one. It has been a lot of fun getting to know how different the culture is between here and Kansas and here and the city.
     Service is how we pass the time. Anything. We helped a member destroy a fence and build a new one. It was hard work but fun. We actually saw the sun for about 5 hours one day. I know that sounds weird but here in Idaho, those of you who lived in the valley know, are inversions. Clouds of water, pollution, and other things cover the sky for days at times. I heard last year they had one that lasted 30 days. A lot of the missionaries started to get depressed so they would save their miles so they could travel to Idaho City, in the mountains, to see the sun. I hope I never have to go through one of those.

     I am looking forward to this upcoming conference and am excited for the opportunity to hear from the General Authorities of the Church.

      We are going to the Temple today. I never really realized how awesome it is to do something different until all you do everyday is the same and then once every three months you get to do something out of the ordinary. Also I never really appreciated the Temple and the strength and help it gives to not only me but to recent Converts to the church. GET THEM THERE!

     I look forward to your letters and emails in this upcoming week.

 

Elder McCallson

January 23, 2015

Dear Blog,

     TRANSFERS!! Yes this time I did get transferred. I am in Eagle now. I am excited to see what new things I will get to learn from the members in this area. I am also looking forward to the new experiences and people I will get to meet and learn from.

     This week was a little slow. A lot of service for both members and non members. We helped someone who's house caught fire move their things into a storage unit. The next one was helping move some freezers, stoves, microwaves, and dishwasher. That was a pain.
    

     On Saturday, we were pleased to have Elder Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles visit the Mission. He spoke a lot about how important it is to read and pray and pay tithing. I think that is what we all need to remember. Something I learned is that Sister Nelson is a boss. She brought up some good points. If you had a Pre-Earth DVD player and could have 10 minutes to watch your time in the Pre-Mortal world what would you want to watch? Out of all the time that we spent up there preparing to come down to get a body to make our own decisions; what would you want? Would you want to see the last 10 minutes before you came down? Or would you want to watch one minute every eon or so. With all that time we were up there what would you want to remember?

 

Elder McCallson

                                    Elders Lee and Smith (Old Companions)

                                      Elder Garcia (New Companion)

 

January 20, 2015

Letter,

     Not much has happened this week. We are coming up to a Mission Conference and have a special guest speaker. Elder Nelson. I guess that is some pretty big news though.

     There is still so much that I need to learn I have found. I guess that is always true. I guess that sometimes it hits me in waves. Like I know I am a missionary but sometimes when you are walking down the street you have this realization that you are a missionary. It is kind of weird sometimes and almost freaks you out.

       That and when people honk or yell out at you for anything really it hits me that someone is really always watching you even if all they know is what they "know".

      I am looking forward to this next transfer. My time has come. I think...

      I really have grown attatched to this area and will now have the opportunity to move on and work in a new area. Who knows, with such small stakes and wards I could move right across the street and be in a whole new zone stake and ward. It is kind of rediculous how they organized the areas up here.

Anyway I love you all,

Elder McCallson

January 12, 2015

Dear ...,

      I have no clue what to write. This week has just flown by and it feels as though I just wrote a letter home.

     This week has had a lot of minor changes. The Mission President combined two areas and made our companionship and another a companionship of three Elders, the Elders we lived with moved out of the apartment, and we found three new investigators. I guess those are the largest changes this week.

      The work in this area is picking up right as I am about to be transferred. But, so I am told, this is how it almost always works. Right as you start to gain momentum in an area you get moved on. Oh well, it is no big deal to me.

      The cold weather is determined to stay. It doesn't bother me but it does make it hard for us to make street contacts when there is almost no one out side because it's cold. I guess that is why we have tracting and referrals.

     Other than that, not much is happening in my life. There never seems to be enough time for anything. I now understand the saying "forget yourself and go to work". As I have been trying to forget things and work harder on finding and teaching about Christ and His atonement, time has been fleeting.

Elder McCallson