23 Mar 2015 "Hey ya'll"

 Transfer calls came...I am staying another Transfer in Marshfield and I am Training again. I don't know his name or nothing.  Ya'll will find out next week.

    We should be having a baptism pretty soon, DS, who is soon to be DG, will be getting baptized once she quits smoking and gets married.

     We have been teaching the K Family.  They are a Part-Member family and they are so incredible. Last night Sister K told us that J, her husband, would not even let the missionaries in the house before us. She also said he has opened up more to us than to anyone church related prior. She said "I don't know what you did for him, but thank you." I love that family.  I dont know if I did anything other than follow the spirit and not preach. The first time I met J, we just talked cars and fireman stuff and now he will talk gospel to us.

     "No one cares how much you know, until they know how much you care."

       I have found that quote very useful in all Missionary aspects. It is Gods work and God is loving, so if we want to do his work we have to Love. Its a really simple concept but it means more than anything else to me. Love those we associate with and they will see us and notice the difference in our lives.

     Here is the last time this District will be together or this big.  They have combined another area in Springfield. The Springfield Zone now has 3 two congregation areas. Marshfield, Springfield 1st, and Willard. As the Mission grows and the Missionary numbers go down, it has made for quite an interesting Mission. I love it.  Keeps us on our toes and continuing to grow!

                                                   Love ya'll,

                                                           Elder Caldwell

My Springfield Zone before the split.

16 Mar 2015 "Tender Mercies"

Hey ya'll!  The title is so fitting when I think of this week. First off, we were asked to write a talk on Tender Mercies of the Lord for Zone Conference. I started to write mine Monday morning.   I did not put much thought into it.

     We went bowling as a District at a place called Lighthouse Lanes. the T was raised up more like a cross (we are in the Bible Belt). We walk in and the lady at the desk told us we could bowl then pay after. I thought that was super cool!! I told Sister Ratto that I missed a few things about home and I am just a tad trunkie. All I know after that is she said something so simple to the effect of: wow you're trunkie you have 9 months left. Boy, did that one get me thinking!  Next thing I know, I am relating everything I did at home to the Gospel and everything is now a positive.

     I was fine until I got transferred here, what changed? The only real thing was my Attitude and it was because I was not being as diligent as I could be. I later told Sister Ratto of the experience I had. She said something that became my Tender Mercy. Then I got to thinking, how often am I a Tender Mercy for someone else? How often do I say something that could change someones thinking so much? How often do we lift others and have no clue that we have done it?

     Needless to say I re-wrote my talk and put a lot more thought into it. God is real.  He often works through others when we are too stubborn to see it. God loves us.  Are we going to be the ones that keep his commandments and love him?

    I have learned a lot about myself and also about the work this week. We have been teaching a part-member family.  Last night we met with them and one of the kids had a girlfriend over. We just read from the Book of Mormon.  It was really cool. At the end, she handed the Book of Mormon back and when I told her she could keep it, she smiled and walked into the kitchen. As we were driving away, I look in the rear view mirror to see the Girlfriend dancing on the lawn with the Book of Mormon held over her head. I can't imagine myself dancing over any book, but who knows. I think it was the coolest reaction I have seen on my Mission.

                                   Love, 

                                        Elder Caldwell

District Conference March 2015

Zone Bowling!!

Zone Bowling...we are a great zone!!

09 Mar 2015 "Another Week"

  Well, I don't have much to write about today other than it was a great week.  We started the stop smoking workshop with a few people and it is going really well. I am kinda tired of Missionary Exchanges, but other than that its been a good week.

    I was sitting in Sacrament Meeting and I realized how amazing some of the Children in the area are. I learn so much from the kids. These Kids know the meaning of a Time and a Season for all things under the Heavens. Sometimes I feel a little funny running around playing with the kids, while companions are looking at me like I have lost my mind. But I am these little kids best friend. Staring contests are always appropriate.

    I had a great time doing a sample family home evening with this investigator named Danielle. She and her boyfriend and daughter played some Chutes & Ladders with us. It was so much fun.  They are as close to family as it gets.

    I don't really know how to describe my experiences through the week. Between the snow and seeing 4 semi's rolled on the freeway, I am super glad that we have managed to stay safe through it all.

    Well thats about all sorry there is not more.

                 Love,

                      Elder Caldwell

2 Mar 2015 "Wow! Shut down due to snow..."

  I have been reading in the Bible a lot lately and I am just amazed at how much the Old Testament talks about the things in the world, such as Jealousy and Pride and Perverts and odd things!!! I started to ask myself why do they talk of such things all the time?  I came to the conclusion that it had to do with a contrast. When Jesus Christ comes, it looks so much brighter than in the times of the Old Testament where the term an Eye for an Eye and a Tooth for a Tooth was common.

     I have learned a lot this week.  If you have a problem with anyone, just serve them and forget the problem.  It goes away. I have never truly been perfect at such a task, but I have found it easier to serve than to complain about it. I also found that if you serve thenm then the problem that you once faced is gone.

     We got 6 inches of snow on Saturday and it made for a pretty long couple of days.  All appointments canceled. My companion does not like to play in the snow.  Normally I would just go out and throw some snowballs, but it's not fun by yourself. I had one more option, I studied for 3.5 hours on Sunday and 2 hours on Saturday. I read all of 1 Samuel in 5 days and am half way through 2 Samuel. I read Ensigns and New Eras. I found some amazing stories and learned so much.  It turned out to be a great day for me. I also made some fun card towers just for fun.  You got to have a break, otherwise I would have been asleep. My companion on the other hand just moped around. I did not see that being much fun.

    In Missouri, the world shuts down for a snow dusting. When they get 6 people just looking at you like you're Crazy walking out in it. I found that the funny part of them thinking I was crazy is that they were driving in it haha. I think driving in it, when there are no plows, is pretty funny.  I can walk faster than the car is moving.

    We went to the Senior Center and volunteered to cut up vegetables. I love it there.  The two girls that work in that kitchen are hilarious to me. I dont know, if you ask others..they might say they are angry and unapproachable. We had a good laugh about that little compliment that someone gave her. She is one happy lady.

                               Love,

                                   Elder Caldwell  

My fun card tower!

23 Feb 2015 "What an Amazing Week"

   I have been a little shell shocked by all the support between the Branch and the Ward we are in right now. They are truly amazing.  Sadly, I will have a hard time getting to know them unless I spend about 6 months in this area. It is a lot of names to remember.  Luckily the Lord has been helping me in the process of remembering names.

     I have seen Miracle.  We committed one lady to quit smoking and to come back to church all in the same lesson. To say that the Spirit was so thick you could cut it with a knife, would be a bit of a lie. It was thicker/  So thick that you would have to used a full-on sword to cut through the Spirit.

     I have no doubt that the spirit is there and that there is a God and a plan for all. I have found that I can recognize the same spirit in a 3 year old as a full grown adult. If we Look (which is found many many times in the Book of Mormon) all God asks of us is to Look and Remember. If we Look around us, we can find great things. The Spirit speaks to us and it also speaks through us if we are worthy of it.

     I know that the Lord has prepared a way for us to always Look unto him. A Young Woman gave a talk in Sacrament Meeting about Choice and Accountability. It struck me hard that there is always a good choice to make. We have all been given the gift of discernment and what a gift that is.  If we had no knowledge of Right and Wrong, how could we possibly survive this test? I have been studying Grace a lot lately. Christ has already paid the price we just need to learn to follow in his footsteps.

    There is this really nice Cafe that gives us free food. When we first went there, we thought that the owner was L.D.S. Turns out we were wrong.  She is a non-member who respects and loves what we do. She has no desire to change, but she has already changed me. I am so glad there are people in this world like her. No, not only because I get free food, but because I know that there are people out there that are willing to help people out "to lift one another's burdens that they may be light."

                                           Love ya'll,

                                                  Elder Caldwell   

Me & Elder Cureton

My Marshfield Digs

I love this white stuff!!

16 Feb 2015 "Ha,Ha another crazy one"

 My zone leaders had no idea that I was getting shotgunned into an area replacing Sisters, so I didn't know I was shotgunning until I met the Marshfield Sisters at Transfer Point. They knew I was coming, but I had no idea. Pretty crazy.

    I am so grateful for Sisters M and P.  They left such great notes and have really worked hard in this Ward and Branch. Oh ya, we are covering 2 units right now.  The Branch has over 200 and the Ward has over 350 Members. It is a big change from Ash Flat's 120 Members and 40 Active. I got to learn names and everything. haha.  I am so bad at names.

   The 2nd day I was here, Elder C and I went over to Brother H's house.  It's odd but somehow that is pronounced a lot like wheat thin but its (wheatin). Anyways, he kinda makes me feel a little old in odd ways.  He is 23 and is our Ward Mission Leader.  He is married and has a kid on the way. I am too young for that crazy, preposterous, insanity. He is super excited about Missionary work and having Elders now.  He has already been on one exchange with us and has agreed to another this week.

   We came in and started setting up appointments with less actives and with investigators that the sisters were working with. We now have 22 set appointments.  I have never had it so easy. All we did was text them.  We did not even call or anything and now we have one busy week lined out.

    This morning we woke up to a beautiful surprise...6-8 inches of snow all over!  I was so excited!   I have not seen real snow since last winter!  We went sledding for exercise in the morning!  It was great!   I love snow, other than the fact that they cancelled church for it here.

                                                                 Love,

                                                           Elder Caldwell

SNOW BEAUTIFUL SNOW!!

09 Feb 2015 "Another crazy Week"

      This week started with me getting sick, then some Service, and I am still sick. I started in Ash Flat, Arkansas and finished the week in West Plains, Missouri. Elder S is currently on a plane going to Australia. We got shotgunned out of our house in Ash Flat and got replaced by Sisters.  They won't be there until Thursday of this week. We tried to clean everything up. I found out I was leaving less than 16 hours before I actually left.

      I am currently living with the Zone leaders in West Plains.  Tripanionships are just down right weird.  I really can't wait to get back to normal Mission life, where I have a bed to sleep in and I have a cupboard full of groceries that I bought, so I don't feel guilty using other people's food. Its all good, though.  Makes for funny experiences.   I will clue you in at the end of this email. 

      The quick exchange of email addresses and goodbyes that followed. Boy, am I going to miss Ash Flat. That's OK, because I have said that about every area I have served in. Now I get the opportunity to serve in Marshfield, Missouri.

      Cough drops are some good candy.  I am blowing through them like water. I love ya'll and wish ya the best.

        FUNNY STORY OF THE WEEK:  Last night I was sleeping in a recliner, because it is what we had. I leaned back and fell asleep. I might have rolled over or woken up cold or something. (The house we are living in in West Plains has no heating.) Anyways...right after I woke up, the chair flipped over and I found myself laying with my feet in the air. My Zone Leader woke up to the ruckus,  When he saw my feet in the air, he busted up laughing! Me...being half awake and half asleep, I laid there for a good 3 minutes before I sat the chair back up and pulled the couch cushions off and layed them out. Three more days in West Plains!

        Well ya'll have a good week,  

                    Elder Caldwell