Week 4 - Part 2

I wrote this to Calvin in another message this week:
  Dad came in the living room yesterday morning laughing. Sophie had come into the living room and sat
down briefly, then went in to see Dad in his office. So Dad says: "Sophie closed the sliding door, then opened it and said, 'Come to dinner,' then she closed the door. Then she opened it and said, 'THAT'S NOT A REQUEST,' and closed the door." I had to laugh. Has this kid been watching "Beauty and the Beast" a little lately? Hmmmm?

Calvin wrote this as a reply:
That is so cute. She is pretty cheeky. Great, she is going to be a HANDFUL! I miss Sophie, and keep thinking how much time I hope to spend with her.
[Then he goes on to comment on some more of the email.]
Are the girls at school? Or is this Pre-season? Who won the scrimmage? Tell all the girls that I miss them, and I have letters for both of them, but I haven't found the time to buy stamps to send the letters off to them. So, living in a surrealist painting, eh? Please record your hallucinations! I would love to hear about them. What did you say to embarrass Chantal? I have noticed I have been saying things that don't make sense lately, as well. My companion probably thinks I have a developmental handicap. Maybe I do. I don't know. The investigators are doing pretty well.
[Now he refers back to Midnight's email]
Sorry I only wrote you 1 letter and I wrote dad 2. I'm sorry, I will repent in sackcloth and ashes. I'm sorry oh mother who bare me for 48 hours of Labor, oh she who sacrificed so much for me, and I would go on, but for fear of blasphemy, and having Sean Connery slap me in the face for it, I will stop. I love you Mom! Oh, so differences between Canada, and the US. Milk is in bags here. Oh, the mission apartment has a bench press in it. Also, our car does not have a speed restrictor on it like the missionaries at home do, but we have to report our klicks in at the end of the month (we're only allowed to drive 1900 klicks in a month, it's not fun if we go over), as well as the gas receipts. We have a special credit card that pays for the gas. We drive a lot, so we don't get to talk to many people, like on the street. Well, it's weird being 5 hours from home. [I think it's slightly more than 5 hours.] It's weird being surrounded by all these familiar trees and vegitation, when we drive out into the country, it's like I'm home. If home were flat. 

I love you all lots!

Calvin

For Midnight

Just a little insight into how big of a heart Calvin has (and that he's still a very imaginative child). This was in response to the email I sent him from Midnight.

Dear Midnight,

Sorry, bud. Sorry I can't be there to feed you more regularly. I hope that when I get back you'll still remember me, and even be live when I get back, because if you aren't I'll be SUPER sad. I see all sorts of cats here, and am making many new cat friends, but I think about you every time I see a cat. Unfortunately, many humans here leave cats just out to die, or just don't care much about them. I feel really bad when I see or hear about it. Humans, go fig. Sometimes I wish I was half cat. A were-cat. That would be awesome. All the pride of the world condensed into one being. Hahaha. Anyways, I mourn your lot in life, I miss you and hope you think of me often.

Your friend ( I know better than to say your master) 

Calvin

Week 4 Explanation

I have to include this email that I wrote to Calvin so that some of the emails that he wrote back will make sense. Occasionally I'll write an email to Calvin from the animals. He likes those.

Dear Calvin,
I wish they allowed you to have cats on your mission. I'd have Mom and Dad send me to you. You wouldn't believe the abuse I put up with here. Sheesh.
Sophie mauls me all the time and Mom and Dad just sit there and watch! I have to put up with her laying on me and grabbing me, and practically strangling me. Then - and this is the horrible
part, I mean absolutely horrible! you might have to look away it's so horrible - yesterday the girls got back from field hockey practice and Miranda was filling the tub with freezing cold water and
she THREW me in the tub! I still shudder when I think about it. THE HORROR! Of course the dog tried to follow me upstairs, feigning a worried look on his face, but I'm sure he wanted to gloat or
something. And if that wasn't bad enough, Mom didn't see the whole thing, so she made Miranda drag me out from under her bed upstairs and pretend to cuddle me and comfort me all the way
downstairs so she could THROW ME IN THE TUB AGAIN!! Then they laughed at me! Oh, the indignity!
Mom has tried to be a cat lately but no one lets her. She tried to be a cat yesterday but everyone kept getting her out of bed. She was really frustrated because she kept feeling like she was going
to pass out. She's back on the fun medicine again - the stuff that makes her think deep thoughts and understand abstract art. But she's having really weird dreams, and she doesn't feel safe
driving. This should be really interesting when Dad starts his new job next week. I have a feeling Chantal is going to have to drive more often - which is going to make Miranda really scared.
Mom made granola and her 12 grain rolls yesterday, so the house smelled good.
Sophie's been watching "Beauty and the Beast" all day today. She always cries when the beast turns into the prince. I can understand, I'd cry if I had to turn into a human too. I like being a cat.
Mom really likes to get your emails. She got really mad the other day when Dad got two emails from you and everyone else only got one. She said something about giving birth to you and carrying
you for 9 months, and sacrificing her body for her children and writing all those letters every day to you in the MTC and you write 2 letters to Dad and draw him pictures and what about her.
Sheesh, you'd think that you don't write anything to her the way she went on.
Ugh. Sophie is demanding to watch Mickey Mouse on the computer so I have to get off. I never get to do anything around here. I'm just the cat. Maul me. Throw me in a tub filled with cold water.
Tease me. Make me clean myself for hours. Chase me around the house. Throw my mice outside. Fssssssst!!!
Love,
Midnight

To boldly go where no one has gone before

This is Calvin's letter from last week. The week just slipped away from me and I never got it posted. I'm sorry. So you'll get lots of news this week! - Jessica

Live long and prosper! I'm glad to hear that all is going....... well it's going! I pray every day for you, and I hope things get better, or at least stay the same. Goodness, how time flies by, but is also SUPER slow. I can't believe that it's already preparation day! The weeks are going by faster, which is both comforting and scary. I have been learning a lot out here! I think I know now why people say that they travel to "discover" themselves, because I have learned a lot about who I am, and what I want to be.  I love how you talked about how the modem is doing things that guy has never seen modems do before! I thought to myself "Ok, so what Millennium Falcon modifications did Dad make to the modem?" I thought that was cool, but I hope the internet comes back up so you can get this email!  [Our modem was doing odd things last week also, so our internet was up and then down every 5 minutes or so for the entire weekend. It was very aggravating. The repairman came on Monday in time for us to get Calvin's mail - hooray! But he did say that the modem was doing things he had never seen a modem do before. Leave it to our modem to teach him new things. *grin*] I'm sad to hear Grandpa Homer died. [He's in fact Calvin's Great Grandpa Homer.] I'm actually surprised more than sad, because I thought he would live until the Second Coming! I'm not really beat up about it, and I hope that he knows how much I do love him. He was a great man! I hope that Grandma [Hargrave] is taking it well. I hope you all have been taking it well. I wouldn't mind a sweater from Grandpa Homer.  I'm sad to hear that the Huffs are moving. They are a great family, and they are just super awesome!   OH! So you are looking on google earth the Ottawa area, right, well I am in a little town called Gloucester, and our meeting house is in a place named Orleans, another town right next to Gloucester. Actually, we live in the apartments on Arrowsmith drive in the south eastern part of Gloucester. In the buildings shaped like Ys. (the church's link to Google earth is pretty handy.) Anyways, That's where I live if you're interested. We also cover out to Rockland. Oh, we live in the the north apartment complex, the two apartments that face each other, with a turn-around in between them. (again, google earth.)  Mom, keep the Book of Mormons, and put one in each common room of the house! That way you always have some scriptures nearby. [I told Calvin I would send him my hard cover copies of the Book of Mormon in French so he could hand them out instead of his nice, bonded leather copy, since he gave out what was supposed to be MY nice bonded leather copy his first DAY!] So, this week was fun, because we almost got into an accident this week! We almost collided with a car who was crossing our street without looking, but luckily, the Lord saved us that heartache, and our brakes worked perfectly, and we were able to swerve out of the way! Out here, there are hundreds of small miracles every day. Every day, something happens just perfectly, or at the perfect time, or something works out perfectly or something miraculous happens. Every day. It's insane! I cannot believe how much the Lord is involved in each one of our lives.   I love all of you VERY much, and I have missed you all dearly in this time away from home. I have, however, been having TONS of fun, and I wouldn't trade this opportunity for the world. Girls, That means you, Chantal and Miranda, love Sophie. Take her outside as much as you can! Spend as much time as you can with her, because I can't! I love you all Lots, and I will be sending some letters soon. I don't have much time to do that now.  I love you all, and hope that all goes well! Calvin

Week 2 "In the Field"

Mom,

I LOVE THE CAKE!!!!!! [I sent Calvin a photo of Sophie's birthday cake, because it was the character "Totoro"] That is so cool! I hope Sophie loved it! Did she have a good birthday? I'm glad to hear that all is going well with you guys. I'm also happy to hear [my professor] said hi. Tell him hi back from me, and that I'm doing well, and still doing art. You mail packages and mail to the mission office:

Elder Calvin Messinger

Canada Montreal mission

470 Rue. Gilford Ste. 300

Montreal, QC H2J 1N3

The student protests are in Montreal, so we don't get bothered by them. Besides, they only pay, on average, $1900 for a year of college, at least that's what I've been told by one of our investigators. He about hit the roof when we told him we pay about $35000 to go college, college is actually referred to as University here, college here is like grade 12 and 13, so like a community college, but don't quote me on that because I'm not sure.

The ward is awesome, it's a regular sized ward, and everyone is super nice. Our investigators are super cool!

Oh, yes, speaking of driving, on Wednesday me and my companion went on splits with the Zone Leaders, and I was left in charge of the area, and I only had a week's worth of training. I was also the designated driver, which wasn't bad, until I got into a bit of a scrap with a bus and another car. I won. (No, it really wasn't that bad, the bus was stopped, taking up half the lane, and I tried to go around it.) Anyways, that can be explained later.

Chantal, I'm sorry they won't let you drive, but have patience, your time will come.

I have a personal question for Mom and Dad. One of the branch presidency asked me to give a talk about why knowing the true nature of the Godhead is important to our beliefs.  What does it affect? Besides it's the simple truth, what does it prove? Oh, also, Dad, I noticed in an Illustrated Bible we have (which has good prints in it, I  freaked out when I found it) How do you get the white etched lines in the print as well as the black lines? I looked closely, and I think that it's just the etched lines have been etched so close together that it gives the illusion of white etched lines.

I hope that you all are having a good time, girls, enjoy the last precious month of your summer break!

Sophie, I love you so much! I hope you get along well without me!

Mom, Dad, I love you both, keep doing the amazing job you do!

I love you all!

Elder Calvin Messinger

For those of you who are reading this and are not Latter-day Saints, Calvin's question about the true nature of the Godhead refers to our belief that God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost are three separate and distinct beings. We believe that God and Jesus Christ have perfect, eternal, tangible, resurrected bodies of flesh and bone, just as we will all have some day. We believe that we are created in the image of God - meaning that we have bodies like God's body, except our bodies are in a mortal state. We believe that though God, Jesus, and the Holy Ghost are three separate beings, they are perfectly united in purpose. We believe that we are all literal spirit children of God the Father. As children we can become like him some day.

Monday, August 6th

[Mom's note: When we get emails from Calvin, I edit them for privacy. Names of missionaries; names of people he meets; information about missionaries and about people he meets are all edited out. If anyone is named in these posts besides Calvin or other family members I have asked for their permission to post their names. If anyone else appears in photographs with Calvin I have asked their permission to publish their photographs here.]

Hello from the Mission field!

I'm in Ottowa! In a place called "Chapel Hill" which is in Orleans... I think. Anyways I'm in Ottowa, so everyone knows where I'm from because of the Binghamton Senators. Thank you Senators. I love it out here. My companion is really nice. He is friends with everyone. Yes mom, the members are feeding us A LOT. I really need to exercise EVERY DAY. Luckily we have a bench press in the apartment. It is SUPER hot out here, but the Lord answered the fasts and prayers of the members yesterday with a DOWNPOUR. We were very happy with that. The ward is REALLY nice. Everyone is super awesome, and nice. I'm finding out just how bad I am with door contacting, but I'll hopefully learn quick. Oh, yeah, my area is English speaking. So I'm mostly going to be speaking English this first transfer.

[I asked Calvin if the sandwich he got at the Mission President's house was with a baguette and meat and cheese]

Yes, it was a French sandwich, which was made out of a baugette, with meat cheese and fried peppers and onions. Then there was au jus sauce. I have pictures of the mission home, so don't worry. There is some French here, especially among the Hatian people, who are AWESOME!!

So, I've heard some about the Olympics, but fill me in on the swimming please! I heard that Michael Phelps did really well this year, but apparently he lost to the french swimmer. Which country is in the lead?

I'm missing home, but I don't let it get in the way. It's not that bad not having letters every day, it's just different. It's different being actually on a mission. This is really weird, and not at all what I expected, but it's not that bad. I'm actually enjoying myself immensly. (P.S. If any of what I'm saying isn't making sense please tell me. I might try to explain my feelings, but it will probably sound like I'm going crazy.) I like the area. We live in an area less dangerous than around Roberson, but more dangerous than Rich kids road. Let's see.. what else can I tell you.. I'm missing art a lot. We have an illustrated bible book full of all sorts of beautiful prints, which I'm very happy to have! I spent last night looking at that book, and getting ideas. I'm almost out of ideas for what to write about. Oh! The day I arrived in the mission was a super hectic one. We got up, did transfers, then went off to the bus station. We missed the first bus to Ottowa, so we had to wait there for an hour, which time was spent mostly trying to get extra luggage tickets since we had too many bags. Then the bus arrives, and we find out that we all need to get one more extra ticket. The line to get those tickets was super long, so we almost miss the bus AGAIN. While I was on the bus, I was sitting next to someone and decided to talk with him about the Book of Mormon. After I offered him the only copy I had I thought by what he said that he might be a member. Turns out, he's a member of the church. I contacted and placed a Book of Mormon to a MEMBER! I was really...... not mad but...... I don't know, I felt like those people on candid camera. You're not really mad, but you are. So, Mom, your French Book of Mormon you got me [which is a nice, bonded leather copy of the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price] is now in the hands of a member in Ottawa. Days are filled with tons of these little miracles now.

Anyways, I love you all! I demand a letter from Dylan explaning if this (what were doing right now) is what missionaries really do. It's so surreal. I feel like I should look over at my suit coat and see a melted clock on it with a nose. And maybe an apple floating right in front of my companion's face. I miss art. Dad, when I get back, and after I wake up from the coma I'll probably be in from lack of sleep, we are talking for HOURS about art. We are going to ALL the art galeries! Don't worry about me, because I worry about you all. I love you all, and I will try to write more letters! I keep thinking that hopefully if I write letters in different places, the information in those places will help me remember everything, and then I can write all of it down.

Love you all!

Get sleep!

sleep is your friend!

I want sleep!

I love sleep !

I love you!

Bye
Calvin Messinger

I'm Alive - August 1

  We were able to talk to Calvin for about 15 minutes yesterday morning. He was very concerned about other missionaries being able to call their families, so he kept it short. Grandma and Grandpa Pettengill were here with us, and we had a lovely breakfast with yummy food as we waited for Calvin's call. We started the phone call with all of us singing "Happy Birthday" to Sophie (whose birthday is on Saturday). Calvin told us to expect a package from him, and the girls sang more songs to him during the call. It was wonderful to hear his voice, and we are so happy he is beginning his next adventure!
  Before we went to bed, we checked email and found this short note:

Hey,

We were asked to write to you to tell you that we were alive. There was some rough turbulance, and one passenger was taken surprise by it, and almost fell over, but we are all ok. The Mission President and his wife are AWESOME. We had French dipped sandwiches for dinner. Their house is warm and cheery, and highly decorated, I love it! OK, I probably should go now, 

I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!

The only song that was going through my mind was " We love you Calvin, oh yes we do!" 

OK

LOVE YOU ALL 

your son, brother, and missionary

Calvin Messinger