20 Jan 2015 "This week has been a blast"

 Hey Ya'll!

    We were able to set up a baptism for the 25th of this week. K is getting baptized and I am so excited for him. He has had one long road to baptism. I love being able to see people be baptized and the spirit that lingers at Baptisms.    

 
     I got to play with my new camera a little and had some fun. I have been in the Area for about 5 months and never knew there was a good size pond behind our house. Thanks to the trees. Arkansas' backwoods means a whole new thing!!!

 
     We helped the J family move some re-bar and a chicken coop for the 2nd time haha. We finally got it all unloaded. Then we staked out some land for their new house. Cut a new road in and they are about to start construction.  Just needing an excavator now.

    I have had a lot of fun tracting and training. I love giving my Greenie the opportunity to knock on a door and talk to someone. I have noticed that I have a few bad tracting habits that I need to work on. I think Elder S

is really training me. I think they mixed it up a little!!

    I have learned that teaching investigators is easier than training Missionaries!! They both are very rewarding and I am so glad that I have had the opportunity to serve with this Visa Waiter. 

    We found a couple new investigators this week so hopefully we will be starting to grow Ash Flat. We just need to work on the Members to make our Seamless Team!!

     I am so glad that I have the opportunity to meet so many people from so many walks of life. It seams like every companion I get is a whole new chapter to my short story book of My Mission. I have been impressed by how much The Oklahoma Tulsa Mission has made me a better person every step of the way. I learn more every day than I could Imagine.

             Love Ya'll,

                  Elder Caldwell

After 13 months....still Zach!

War memorial in Ash Flat, AR

Fall in our front yard.

Arkansas Waterfall in the "backwoods"

        

12 Jan 2015 "what an awesome week."

  The pictures will catch up with this in a little bit. I bought me a new camera and I forgot the cord for it, so they will just have to wait. My Companion was sick for a while, so I spent a lot of time studying.  It was kinda tough. We went to a Zone Training Meeting with President Shumway. He told us that we need to shape up and that a lot of areas are going to be watching over 2 wards. Our Mission is cutting back, so we need to Hasten our Hearts to the work.  Its really kinda cool. I Love this Mission for sure. President Shumway went into military mode (which I can relate to). We are going to have so much fun as we focus as a Spec Ops Team.

      We have a baptism on the 25th and we got an investigator to tour the Church.  When he saw the pictures of the temples he was kinda awestruck.

      This week I saw the smallest Sacrament Meeting in my life.  Including us, we were in a group of about 8 people.  This was due to just a skiff of ice on the road. We sang and passed the sacrament.  It was the first time I blessed and passed the sacrament and said the closing prayer all in one meeting...talk about double duty!

                                   Love Ya'll 

                                         Elder Caldwell

P.S. I want to show you a Who-ville tree

Arkansas Who-ville Tree

06 Jan 2015 "11 more months and another crazy email..."

It has been one crazy week.  First week training.  I think I might have gotten my Trainee sick by taking him out in the Arkansas cold. I don't really understand because I don't get sick too easily. We have had to spend the last two days indoors, because of flu like symptoms. My trainee could also leave our area at any time as he is waiting for his visa to go to Australia, but I will take him as long as he is to stay.  Hopefully he is good to go tomorrow to see one of our former Eternigators who now wants to be baptized. K has been coming to church for over a year and decided to get Baptized, finally. :)  We just need to set up some interviews and things like that now :) I am so excited about K. I will post pictures after the baptism :) 

I have a "3 Generation Picture" here.  My Trainer, Me, and My Trainee.  How cool is that!?!  These are kind of rare but since my trainer went home this last transfer and I got my first trainee at the same transfer point, Of course we had to take a pic!!

The second pic...the cheapest I have seen gas that I can ever remember so I took a picture! :)

Have a great week!  I know I am planning on it!

Elder Caldwell

"Three Generation Pic"

Cheapest Gas in my World!!

29 Dec 2014 "I get to train in Ash Flat"

This week was great! I loved being able to see my Family. They are amazing. I am so glad that I get to use skype 2 times a year. All is going well on the home front.

I finally saw Frozen and its a pretty good movie I have to say.  In between that and the Rookie. We pretty much just chilled at the church for Christmas Eve and Christmas.  Now I got some movies to send home haha.

What an amazing experience it is to find a family that makes you feel at home, even though you are 1,200 miles away. I am happy to know that I have people here that remind me of home and all the things they taught me. I have made so many new friends.

I get to train this next transfer, starting on 1 January 2014. I get to train a new missionary straight from the MTC in Ash Flat that makes this area at least a 6 month area! It is very probable that I will be here for a transfer after that, too.  That would put it at a 7.5 month Area!  That is crazy for the Oklahoma Tulsa Mission!!  It's less then 10% of the Mission that has a 5 transfer area!

I've already decided that we are going to hit the ground runnin'.  He ain't gonna have time for unpackin' .  We go tracting first!  I remember the shell shock of my first day, but I learned so much just getting out and doin' the Lord's work.  I think we'll work hard and make spaghetti and meatballs for dinner.  That Omaha Meats Christmas present continues to be the best thing ever!  Those pork chops were amazing. The hamburgers are softer than the buns that we bought.  Crazy how tender they are.  The steak, I have decided I kinda like a rarer steak than I used to.  Thjs truly has been the gift of all gifts!  Especially for me!

James will be a beast when I get home!  A few years later, he will be Sam Ns age.  Crazy!!  I play around with this little kid Samuel... he is a blast.   I like when kids are able to be kids.

I am very glad to have both of my wonderful parents.  Ya'll have helped me so much.  I have seen a lot of broken families and I never realized how good I have it.  I love the fact that I got disciplined and I am so glad ya'll had the patience to discipline me. Yet, ya love me so much and I know it. thank ya'll.

I hope ya'll have a great week

love ya

Bye

Elder C

Mastering the "Selfie"

Zone Conference #Sharethe gift

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!!

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

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.