August 10, 2015

Blog:

This was the first full week of having a second ward here. I can honestly say that I have never been more busy in my whole mission than I am right now.

I has been amazing to see the strength that God gives as He lends greater responsibility to His children. One of the things I have learned this week is that we truly are weak in all things compared to Christ. The thing that taught me that is I often wonder why people do dumb things, myself included. Why do we argue, point blame, backbite, degrade, etc.? Then I think how much I need to work on those things. It is really a great self check as you see things that bug you that other people do, cause often I have found that those are the things that I need to work on.

This upcoming week we have two baptisms scheduled. So it is going to be a busy Saturday for us.

We had a great training on Friday that really puts how simple the teachings of Christ are into simple ideas and words. I have often wondered why people say there are things that Christ has said that we just cannot understand. I think we often forget the simple nature of what he has said, "ask and ye shall receive, knock and it shall be open unto you." That has been one of the biggest focuses in teaching. We are here to invite those we come into contact with, to ask so they can receive.

The summer is winding down this week as more people are getting ready to go back to school. It is so much easier to contact people during the summer because they are outside,  whereas during the winter it has been a lot harder to get into people's homes. Really getting their door open is what is hard.

I look forward to these next few weeks as the change of the seasons brings nicer weather.

Party on,

Elder McCallson

A green smoothie?

Homemade Cheesecake

August 3, 2015

Blog:

This week was awesome! We had Leadership Exchanges (three zones get together at the mission office where we switch companions for a day, the senior companions have a little training meeting too) my companion was Elder Hull. I had met him one time before when I was in my first area. We got a lot of work done. It was great.

We also were called up by our Mission President to cover another ward. So, with that ward added on we now have very little time for anything. This is the second time that I have had the opportunity to balance two wards. By that I mean being the first set of missionaries to cover both those wards. It is fun and exhausting and exciting all at the same time. The only problem is we don't know if we are going to continue to serve there or if it is just for the rest of the transfer. So we shall see.

This month we were invited by the Summerwind ward to read the Book of Mormon in the month (August Rush). So, I naturally accepted. I have done this before and had it as a goal for the new year to do it every month, the only problem is that some days you just don't have enough time to read all that you need to and study for your lessons and prepare this and go here or there. So it kind of dropped off.

I am excited to start the month of August off with a firm resolution to trust firmly in the Lord and search His word. I love you all.

Elder McCallson

Bullseye!  I didn't make it, my companion, Elder Davis did!

July 20, 2015

Blog:

I really don't have much to report this week as all our time was spent catching me up on the people we are working with, meeting with the Auxillary Leaders (Relief Society and Primary mostly), and the Ward Mission Leader. I had my first district meeting which was on planning, and had to kick a dead horse, in a sense, because I have no new ideas on how to plan better. We will see how my next one goes.

We did however find a new investigator. So that was awesome!

I love you all,

Elder McCallson

July 13, 2015

Well this is an interesting week. I knew that I was going to be transferred so I started making my rounds to say goodbye to all the awesome people. It was a bitter sweet moment for me. I really feel like I am understanding what other missionaries were talking about.

I always thought that 6 months really isn't enough time for you to become close with lots of people, but I was proved wrong. I know that I will miss them but no where is really far in this mission. So I will see them around.

I didn't expect what happened with this call. I am now a District Leader and follow up training a missionary, Elder Davis. It will be really interesting to see how it will all turn out. Please and thank you for the prayers.

The Last Zone P-day we had was okay. We had an elder bring this game called Munchkin and I ended up getting roped into a 2 1/2 hour game. Other than that this week was full of contacting with no real "success" as people would classify it. On Saturday Eagle had this thing called "Eagle Fun Days".  They had this great parade that marched down State Street, but at the end, the fire department gots out their hoses and the people of the community brought water guns and there was a huge water fight. Needless to say...we got wet!

I am glad that I had the great opportunity to meet the people of Eagle and serve them.

I really ran out of things to write. 

Just be good,

Elder McCallson

July 6, 2015

This week was the 4h of July. I could literally see 20 different shows from our loft. We had to be in by 8 and I guess that was good because I really wanted to light off fireworks and because I am a missionary I can't, so that was a load taken off my shoulders.

The family we live with left for a vacation so they asked us to take care of their dogs, fish, and turtle. We later learned that they had been in a car wreck with a horse in Wyoming. That was interesting. They are all good but the car I guess was totaled.

The heat has been horrible...being over 100 all week long. Until Sunday, that is, when it rained and dropped to 72.

We helped some non-members move to a new house...which is still in the mission so I may have the opportunity to serve in their ward.

Other than that I am looking forward to this next week. We will see on Saturday if I get transferred or if I have the opportunity to stay here.

I hope all is well back home.

God be with you till I write again,

Elder McCallson

June 29, 2015

Monday was great. We had a zone p-day of basket ball and volleyball. It was nice to have time to really play and relax as that last week was crazy. Got haircuts.

Tuesday we had to finish the service that we started. We have some awesome pics but I need to get them from the other missionaries. A full day of contacting and almost no doors opened.

Wednesday was good. We had lunch with a single sister and her home teacher. They had panda express and I had Subway only because I am not that big of a fan of panda... they made fun of me. But it was all good. Elder Castillo was able to get to the physical therapist again so that is making it easier on our work load. Or we can work more because he is in less pain.

Thursday was district meeting and interviews with president. It was weird because my interview was way shorter than anyone else's. Tried some more contacting...by the way this was the first day it was really over 100 for a majority of the day and we didn't have enough miles for the rest of the month so we had to ride our bikes. The only real problem was that Elder Castillo wrecked his back tire so we borrowed Elder Garcia's tire while we took his into the shop. (Later we learned that the gear was rusted on there so bad that they couldn't get it off to do the necessary repairs so he has to buy a new one).

Friday service. We helped this non-member family with some work around their house. We have helped them in the past cutting and moving wood and junk so that they could really get started on cleaning up the yard. Well we went over with a weed whacker and they had a lawn mower. I started whacking and brother Young (the non-member) started mowing when about 30 mins in it caught on fire literally so we had to stop. We helped clean up some of their yard and load up their truck to take stuff to the dump. That night we had my first birthday party with the Hall's in the ward. They are moving and wanted to throw me a party before either they left or I did. We watched Meet the Mormons.

SATURDAY BIRTHDAY!!! It started with service at a less actives house. We were helping clean up his barn and we were doing some sweet parkour around. Well I did at least. We then drove home got ready and went to lunch with some members in our ward as they wanted to treat me to lunch at a local Mongolian restaurant. It was awesome! We then tried to visit some other people who of course didn't open their doors. It was turning out to be a pretty bummer birthday. Until we went to the Thorn's for dinner. We went to Chipotle it was so good. We hung out for a little while there as we let our stomachs settle for the cake she had made for me. Double Chocolate  We then went to the Stadler's who wanted to take me out for ice cream. I was completely full by this time and both Elder Castillo and I thought we were going to die. It was a great day all in all.

Sunday we were in meetings all day, which was good with me. From Thursday to Sunday the temp was over 100 everyday. So I was fine being in a nice ac'd building. Had a quick dinner and that was pretty much it.

I am really looking forward to this next week as we are getting more organized with who we can visit and when is the best time. I am really grateful for all the help and strength that you are all to me.

Elder McCallson

Why I Love My Weight

Birthday at the Stadlers

 

June 22, 2015

Not much time today sorry.
This week was great so I will go over the highlight reel.

On Monday we had a great meeting with the primary president who use to be the relief society president so now she know everyone. She gave us quite a few people to stop by and with great hopes we started the week.

Tuesday we started on some of the names she gave us and what a success. We met with sister Su, who's first question was "who sent you?" It was interesting to watch her turn from sort of a clam all tight and close to really opening up and showing us a great pearl of a daughter of God. We met another member who was moving and accepted our help but we had to wait til the following day. We met with a gentleman who is not a member but comes to church pretty regularly. We are going to work on him to see if he has any interest in increasing his knowledge and faith in the Savior or in other words invite him to take the lessons.

Wednesday we helped that family move out as their land lord sold the house out from under them.... that is happening quite a bit here in Eagle right now... Met with our new eternal investigator. He is going through quite a bit right now but said he is grateful for our visits and that he may want to be baptized but not right now. So we are going to let the Spirit work on him for a little bit.

Thursday we had the worst and best service ever. We layered rocks around a new man made pond in a subdivision. I will try to get pics for it. We couldn't finish it all in one day so we went back Saturday. Met the Hranacs in the ward, they have a turtle.

Friday was district meeting. We then finished cleaning up sister Blodgett's, bamboo lady, yard.

Saturday some service as previously mentioned above as we also helped a less active member who wasn't even there. Random call from a member for service they too are moving but not because their land lord sold their house but because they let him know that they were building a house and moving out in a few months so he was going to raise their rent $1000. So they were happy to leave.

Sunday... Father's day. Two missionary farewells and a missionary home coming. It was awesome!

Love,

Elder McCallson

Turtle and Me

Awesome Sign!