27 April 2015 "This week brought some surprises"

This week started like any other exchanges with Klay Atwell and everything! Then on Friday, we had a mini Zone Conference.  I talked to the Castors from Ash Flat.  They got a good picture of me while we were conversing. My companion, Elder Levitz, went and talked one on one with President Shumway.  At that point I realized something was wrong. 

    The next day I drove down to Monett Stake Center which, in order to get to, I had to drive through Aurora, Missouri (my 2nd area). While I was there, the memories started racing through my mind and I am so glad that I have the opportunity to go through there. I found out that Jacob Numbers got his Mission Call and is going to Argentina!

    Elder L then met with the mission Psychologist and found out that he needed to go home immediately. So I spent the last two nights with the Zone Leaders and on Sunday, Elder L flew home.  We dropped him off in the Springfield Airport.  We cried a little and watched him go on his way.

   I was sent back to Marshfield with Elder G. He is amazing and energetic. He loves all the same music and is one incredible OTM Elder! I hope we get the whole next transfer to work together, but we might just have a week and a half. We get along real well. I hope we can light this area on fire even more so than it already is.

    While I was in the Monett stake building, I ran into the Angel Kids (as we used to call them from Aurora). Lauren talked to me for some good time and I am so proud of all of them. The Little girls are all still looking forward to baptism.  They are still waiting on their dad to come back to America from Mexico to Baptize them.

      Other than that love ya'll,

                            Elder Caldwell 

  

Elder G and Me!

20 April 2015 "Week-odd be it"

Hey Folks! 

   My week has been fantastic. I got a cool Alarm Clock today for $9. I figured I cant beat that I will include a picture. Our districts are so small right now that we have been having Combined District Meetings. We only have 3 companionships in our district and one of them is Sisters.

 

     We have been doing a lot of Less-Active hunting lately.  I think we found the Seymour Ghetto. It was pretty cool, all in all.  There were a few girls mocking us there.  I find it super funny when people mock Missionaries expecially me.  As they were talking loudly mocking us, I over heard this phrase. "If I wanted to come to their church I would go to their church, don't knock on my door that's annoying as _________."  My immediate thought was, "thats exactly what this lady that we are trying to see did at one point!!" Then I laughed outloud and Elder Levitz just looked at me like I had lost my mind.

 

     I have been reading up a lot on the Atonement. I am so glad I have a Savior who truly loves me and wants me to progress. The Law of Moses does not sound like too much fun!!! I would definately be stoned by now and I do mean the Biblical term of "stoned".

 

     I hope ya'll have a great week.  Don't you just love my color scheme I chose today haha. Well, hmm, what else to say?  Oh.. we were going down a dirt road and there was an unseen jump just in the middle of the road.   Well, I found that if you almost come off the ground, the box on the windshield yells at you back to back for driving too agressively. haha.   Tiwi problems it did sound pretty funny!

 

     There is this 18 year old priest who came around with us all day on Friday. We went to his dad's work and saw what he calls "Mini NASA". They have air conditioning units (emphasis on the s).  More than one would fill my entire bedroom. They use them just to keep the computer equipment cool because it generates so much heat. We also went to a lot of different peoples houses (non-member family Members of him). At some point during the day he played my guitar, I found that he likes the same music I do! K is a beast!!

      Love ya'll.  I gotta go,

                             Elder Caldwell

Walking on water!!

Cool new alarm clock!!

13 April 2015 "Just SERVE!"

Hey Ya'll!

            This is just going to be a short email of appreciation to ya'll. Thank you for all your support in helping me to get out and serve the Lord. Thanks for uplifting me and helping me carry my burdens. I am so grateful that I have had the opportunity to meet so many great people expecially President Shumway.  He is such an amazing man. He really wants me to be the best man that I can be.

     Our FATHER in Heaven is so full of grace and Love! He knows where we are and what we are struggling with. He can help.  Let him help. I am grateful for the knowlege that I have of knowing that there is a God and he cares about me as an individual! I know that I am nothing without him.

  

    Love everything you have because in all honesty God is who really owns it!! Love those around you and look for ways to serve those around you. I feel that is the recipe for a happy life....JUST SERVE.

       Love,

           Elder Caldwell

06 April 2015 "Well, for those who think Mission Life is Crazy,yet fun...I got some Pictures for you at the end of this Email."

Hey Ya'll!

           The folks 'round here don't speak the same language as the Arkansas people.  Some laugh at some of the things I picked up from there. We all know it's good in the Neighborhood. Elder Levitz and I had a fantastic April Fools day.  First off, we have what we call the Unifan and just some other great pictures taken during lunch time!  Yes, the Unifan is self explanatory haha!!!

           We had Zone Conference and I got to see Elder N who replaced me in Nixa with Elder M.  J C is getting real close to going to the Temple. She was given less than a year to live when she got baptised. Now her white blood cell count is up and she does not even need to wear the mask anymore.

         I saw Sister M, too.  She came out with me.   It is really odd to think that the sisters that came out with me are going home at the end of this transfer!!! I am becoming an old Missionary but I am still moving forward not trunkie enough not to serve!! Never Trunkie enough to not serve.

         Missions are incredible experiences. I would not give up this work for the best vacation.  I have learned so much as I have seen when I get out and do work I don't get sad.  I don't slow down.  When I become lazy is when the Mission life gets really hard.  We Must learn to love all aspects of life and just put others above ourselves. We must reach out.  We must stand out. We must help out.  I love being in a capacity to serve and not have to worry about much else.  God loves us all and he wants us to succeed.  We are the only hold up! ya'll got to check out this movie on this website helives.mormon.org! I never thought I would hashtag anything seriously, but hey Missions change you.  #BecauseHeLives

                        Love,

                           Elder Caldwell

P.S. Sorry guys I forgot about the all you can eat Ribs at RibCrib!!! 12 ribs later a piece!!!

Me and Elder Levitz

30 Mar 2015 "Amish Country"

Hey Ya'll!

 

    This week has been a blast.  Trying to get going with my New companion.  His name is Elder Levitz.   He is from California and likes all the same things I do. He has been on a trial Mission for 3 months, before I got him as a Companion. He is 21 years old. His Family Moved to Hurricane Utah when he entered the MTC. Well, other than that the week was pretty normal. We went to the Castle again!

 

    Oh ya, Amish Country. Got some good pics.  All is well in Missouri.

 

       We moved a theater this week.  It's incredible how much theaters have. Lots of stuff.  It was a blast, though, and we got fed pizza buffet! I'd say it was a good day!!

Love

Elder Caldwell

Elder Levitz in Amish Country.

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!!