Tuesday, December 23, 2014

22 Dec 2014 "Sorry about the picture bomb message"

      I figured this week is much better said by pictures.  My family is the best!  Those Dollar bill creations were amazing!  I would also like to thank all those who put together that tree and wrote all the notes!  It was like getting 100 letters.....pretty exciting week!!!  My companion and I are loving the 12 days of Christmas. Thank you so much for all you work!  
      I am so grateful for all ya'll. I want ya'll to know that I am having a fantastic Christmas Season!   Merry Christmas!  We have been able to talk to a bunch of different people and found 2 new investigators. I am really impressed with all the many blessings that I have had by being out here for the Christmas season and continuing to do the Lord's work.
      Another Transfer is coming up.   I wanna stay in Ash Flat, but I am thinking I will get transfered this time. New Years Day is Transfers. I will talk to ya'll next week and tell ya'll the verdict.

       Love, 

           Elder Caldwell
My Origami Birthday Present!!  Thanks Family!!

Dollar cubes?!?...AWESOME!!

Dollar Shirts and Ties..AMAZING!!

Dollar Hearts...SUPER-D-DUPER!!

Many creations = an undisclosed amount of Birthday AMAZEMENT!!

2014 Christmas Tree.....WOW!!  It's like getting 100 letters!!

Best Christmas Tree Ever!  

..and you thought of it all...Omaha Steaks??  Family....YOU ROCK!!

Above all...the real reason for all the Celebration!  I love my mission!!

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

15 Dec 2014 "Another week in Paradise"


Hello Friends!

 I really can not imagine a better way to spend my week than doing what I am doing, currently serving in the Ash Flat Branch.  That being said, it has many challenges but I know that all the challenges are just to better me.  It is truly what makes this Paradise.
I would not love this if I did not struggle at all.  It would be a sad realization. I love the fact that it has not been easy. "Embrace the suck".
My 22nd Birthday was just yesterday.  I celebrated by tracting down the streets.  We found a new investigator. That alone really just made me happy.  To be able to reach out to someone who has the same questions that I did once upon a time.
I am amazed at how everyone's mission is so specific to what they need.  I know that there can be 200 Elders and Sisters in one Mission and not a one of them will have the same Mission as the other. I love that fact.  I know that this is for me.
I hope ya'll have a great week 

Love,
       Elder Caldwell

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

08 Dec 2014 "This week has been a new adventure"

  The 4th was my Yearmark!  I am over half way done already. It's kinda sad. It went too fast..way too fast. I am so glad for all the opportunities that I was given this wonderful year.   Much more to come.   I am sure of that one. The days get shorter and shorter it seems like and no, I am not talking about sun light. I did burn a shirt and I will post pictures for sure.

     This week I have been reading a lot in the Old Testament and I have been amazed at how symbolic the Law of the Sacrifice is!

      We have been teaching a lot of people and we had a lot of fun at the Jensens role playing with their kids on how to pass out passalong cards. They are a pretty fun family.

       We also had some good Deer steak with the Mansfields. They did not think it was quite as good as I did, so I ate a couple steaks.. ha, ha. I am so happy that I am in an area where the members are so accommodating. Wow! I never realized how big that word is haha!!!

        We have been doing a lot of tracting.  We were able to meet this guy who was using a metal detector looking for buried treasures.  He had found a lot of historic coins and cool stuff. It was really fun talking to him we shared a little about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and we were on our way.

        I love ya'll and hope you have a great week I will be 22 by next week around this time. That is kinda odd of a thought!!!


        Elder Caldwell 
Shirt is prepped for burning.

I might have had a little too much fun with the marker.

1 Year Shirt Burning.

1 Year Shirt Burning.


Monday, December 1, 2014

01 Dec 2014 "Hola Everyone"



Hola Everyone!

Well another crazy fast week down.  I am working hard on getting so much done!  We do lots of service here. We just got the whole side bag thing going.  Not going to lie, I am none too happy about carrying a purse (or man bag, if you will.)  It is a mission change that we are no longer allowed to use backpacks so we all had to convert to these lovely side bags?!?  Oh well, pride aside, there must be a reason for it. 

On a lighter note, I got some awesome Missionary Twinkies in a box from my Aunt Lisa and Uncle Lowell.  I love my Family! ha ha!  I had to take a pic of these cuties!

I also thought I would take a picture of our backyard.  No, we are not the ones responsible for mowing of the lawn, that would be our Branch Mission Leader.  Hmmm

 I don't really know what to say.  We did have a cool experience where we knocked on this lady's door.  She told us to go to the back door and talk with her there.  She later invited us in, listened to what we had to say, took a Book of Mormon and a Plan of Salvation Pamphlet. She told us to come back and next time she would have more questions.  So who ever says that tracting is not effective is a little mislead.  We also street contacted a few people and gave them the spiel about how Christ is the gift of Christmas. They loved that so we left them with a card that has christmas.mormon.org on it, which is an amazing website that the church has put out to show the importance of Christ in Christmas.

I am excited to see how everything else plays out for this Month. Christmas tracting is a lot of fun!!!

Love
Elder Caldwell
"Do I really need a man-bag?"

Missionary Twinkies!  AWESOME!

The swingset may be missing come spring!

Working on the Selfie!

Elder Caldwell..going strong!