Well Done: 2 Years and 4 Weeks

I thought I was only a week behind. Apparently I was more behind than I thought. Sorry. Calvin comes home this Thursday (June 26th).

23 June, 2014
[This is Calvin's last email home. I wrote this in my letter to him, and I think it will explain his letter a little: "I think I'm going to be singing Motley Crue "Home Sweet Home" all week long. *big grin!!!* Okay, yes, I turned it on to listen to as I'm writing this. Can you hear it? Can you? Now I'm going to cry. I know, "Sheesh Mom, get a grip." I have a feeling it's going to be that kind of week for me.
Momm]

Calvin writes:
Well, this week went well. It was wierd, but good at the same time. I am nervous to come home, but I am also excited. I cant wait to tell you all the things I have learned on my mission, all the mistakes, all the good times, the bad times, and the funny ones!! one thing i have learned on my mission is that no matter what we or anyone else does, no matter how far we sink or high we soar, we are never out of reach of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. we can always turn another page, or start again because of Him. He is at the head of this work, and it is His.

  As far as housekeeping goes, I might be sending home one box. MAYBE, but I haven't yet finished packing. I'm probably going to throw away/ give to charity a bunch of my clothes. Lots of my white shirts are FINISHED. I no longer have any short sleeved white shirts, I wore them all out (no pun intended).

Don't worry about sobbing, I will be too. :)

I love you TONS!!! and i am excited to tell you everything!!!!!

Love,

Calvin

PS. I have more of Ozzy Osborne's "Momma I'm commin' home" going through my head. I've said that is going to be my homecoming time theme since the beginning of my mission.

[So yes, being the mother I am, I looked up the Ozzy video and played it a few times and cried.]

16 June, 2014
[I happened to be on the computer at the same time Calvin was, so I was able to ask him some questions. It started out with this email I sent to him: So we got a letter from the Mission office telling us you will be coming home the 26th. It's official!
Love MoMM
P.S. Run THROUGH the tape!!
"Run through the tape" is a visual I told him about. When runners who race are finishing the race, they don't stop at the tape or the finish line, they run THROUGH the tape. So I have been telling him the last few weeks to "Run through the tape." Smart alec kid that he is, he replies with this:]

So you want me to dress in a suit and tie every day i get home?
:P

[NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO!!!]

good, me neither. I'm looking forward to jeans shorts. But its weird, jeans are so thick and uncomfortable now. They are just wierd. Btw how are the rats, dog and cat doing?

[There are other shorts materials out there you know. The rats are fine, though Aoife's tumor is huge. Bailey is fine. The cats are annoying. Sophie went to school for one
hour today and came home sick. Oh, will you need to send anything home in a box? I was thinking that since we're coming back up to Canada the next week, maybe the
mission president would let you keep a box there for a few days? Just a thought. (I attached a photo of the rats, and a photo of the dog)
Love,
MoMM ]

ill ask about the box thing. But i think ill just mail it home.
yep thats my dog. clueless to the end
Hello Momm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  Why do i even write you anymore? Like seriously, I'm going to see you in a few days, right?
  Well, the Lord must be trying to trunk me out or something, because everyone is like "oh, your leaving!!! Well, do this, make sure you come over to do that, etc. etc." This sunday they girl doing the gospel principles class thought I was going home this week, and asked me to give a farewell testimony in Gospel Principles, so I spent the rest of the day having people say goodbye to me. I thought it was pretty hilarious!!!! this sunday was pretty much the "perfect sunday" because lots of people we worked with came to church!!! FINALLY!! People who we worked with for a long time. So that was cool.
  Other than that, I spent this week doing srvice, driving to Rimouski, and taking the ferry at forestville. That was fun. yes, we can take boats because we kinda have to!!! otherwise our klicks (miles for all you 'mericans out there) would be DONE. and we teach people who live FAR away!!!!! Other than that, not much exciting. Missionary life is kinda boring from the outside. The most exciting things are when you get that appointment with someone you have been WAITING fro WEEKS to see, and FINALLLLLLLYYY they say sure come over. Those appointments lead to baptismal committments.
   Well, know I love you all, and I will still write next week, but it'll probablty be short, so I can get all these emails off this account next week. Hey, I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Calvin

[YOU WRITE ME BECAUSE YOU'RE BEING OBEDIENT! And because you don't want to be strung up by your tie when you get home, because you didn't write me. *scary-looking smile*]

lol, I knew that would get a response! heeheehee oh, mother dear, I am looking forward to seeing you, BUT!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have to finish this work here first!!!


9 June, 2014
Helloooooooooo momm!!!!!!!
  So, this week i figured out that in two weeks I wont be here. MAJOR PANICK ATTACK!!!!!!!!!!!!! I dont want to leave all these people I love sooooooo very much!!! aaarrrggghhh!!!! But thats ok, I'll survive. I guess....................................................................
  I've been studying the returned missionaries here, and I've seen that the secret to a successful re-integration into normal society is being busy out of your MINDS. But, thats ok, I dont want to slow down anyways.
  Here in the mission, we are doing well. We have 2 investigators who are really progressing well!! One Believes the Book of Mormon is true and Joseph Smith was a prophet, But he thinks if the Apostasy happened once, why not a second time? So, we are helping him to find that answer, but I think he'll find it. He's devouring the Book of Mormon, reading it every night. The second is reading as well, and is interested.
  Glad to hear that [one of his friends] is leaving on a mission. She is going to be an INCREDIBLE missionary. Many sister missionaries have her same personality, and they are all incredible people. Way better missinonaries than I can EVER aspire to be.
  The work here now mostly consists of visiting members chez eux, [in their own homes] and sharing the hastening the work website with them and their families. Its the best way to work i have ever seen, because it gets the members excited, and you get to get to be more a part of their lives. MEMBERS!! INVITE THE MISSIONARIES INTO YOUR LIVES!!!!!! I KNOW YOU ARE ALL BUSY BUT IT IS THE WORK OF THE LORD!!!! I have gotten tired of screaming that into the sky, so now we just walk up to the members front doors and ask to come in. Sad that that took my whole mission to figure out.
  Oh, after a few texts, i got the email address for the [member in Montreal who works in the gaming industry that Calvin would like to work in] He is perfectly bilingual, so write him i french or english, whatever boats your float! :)
  Well, What else can i report on? I'm happy, working hard, and looking forward to/dreading what the future holds for me. I love you all, and wish the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
   Calvin.
P.s. so, how was the art at the art honor society? did miranda manage to get 1st 2nd 3rd, honorary mention, and most colorful all at the same time? :)

2 Years + 1 week

Calvin has officially passed his 2 year mark on his mission. As I stated before, his Mission President asked him if he would stay an additional transfer (6 weeks). I have pregnant friends who post on Facebook about passing their due dates, and it got me to thinking that I am a week "overdue" for my Mom Hug at the airport! But then 3 of my 5 births ended up outlasting all of the given due dates, so why am I surprised? *smile*

2 June, 2014

HEllo Everyone!!!!

  Well this week was really Bi-polar. we had 10 visits fall through. RRRRRRRRRRRFGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So that stunk. this whole week has been like that. Even when we confirm ahead of time, even the DAY BEFORE!!!!!!!!!!! Well, thats ok, because as consequence of that, TONS of miracles came about. for example, one day we were going to pass by [the first] family to share with them "hastening the work of Salvation" and they werent home. But we got to talk to a non member husband to a member wife, which was good. He was doing rennovations on the house.Then, we decided to pass by another member who was home. So we shared it with him. It went ok, he wasn't super interested, and just before we finished the lesson, [the first family's father] knocked on his door!!!! So he invited us to his house, and we got to share the message with both families!!!!! It was nice to see into the members lives a little. Then, we had another lesson THAT WE HAD CONFIRMED THE NIGHT BEFORE fall through, and [a] family was right next to us when it did (the lady had to go to the hospital with her daughter) So, we took the family to pass by [three more people]. that was a good night. We made a lot of progress with [an investigator]. then this sat My 2 year mark on my mission, we went over to a less active man's house and sang hymns with him because he is having a hard time with his health. After that we went and did service with an investigator and her husband, and then afterwards they fed us STEAK and CHOCOLATE FONDUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND the husband is totally fine with the wife investigating, and they really like us! They even offered to take us to Costco to buy groceries!! What a miraculous week! Hey, when is the stake broadcast meeting for you? We just had ours, and president Eyering and Elder Holland spoke at ours. So, all in all, doing well, love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Elder Messinger

[MoMM note: In recent years, our Stake Conferences are occasionally broadcasts for several stakes at a time, and these broadcasts originate from Salt Lake. These are different from our General Conferences, which are broadcast twice a year, for the church as a worldwide congregation. I think I have mentioned that our church is composed of units that go something like this:
*Branches and Wards - basic unit (congregation) of the church; 3 men comprise the Branch Presidency or the Bishopbric and they preside over the congregation. There are auxiliaries in each Branch and Ward and they have their own presidencies who act under the direction of the Branch Presidency or Bishopbric. Yes, there are women presidencies: Primary Presidency (for children 18 months - 12 years old), Young Women's Presidency (for young women 12-18), Relief Society (for women 18 - 180). We live in the Greene Branch.
*Districts and Stakes - several Branches and Wards grouped together; 3 men comprise the Stake Presidency and there are 12 men who assist the Stake Presidency in the Stake Council. Again, on a Stake level, there are auxiliary presidencies who assist the Branch and Ward Auxiliary presidencies, and the Primary, YW, and RS Presidencies are all women. We live in the Owego Stake.
*Mission - group of Stakes; presided over by a Mission Presidency of 3 men. We live in the New York Utica Mission, Calvin is serving in the Canada Montreal Mission.
*Area - group of Missions; presided over by an Area Presidency of 3 men. We live in - and Calvin is serving his mission in - the North America Northeast Area.
Have I confused you yet?]

26 May, 2014
Dear mother belovest whom i love soooooooooooooooooo much

WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO ME???!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!? i am TRYING to not get trunky, and then you send me things about whats going to happen when i get home, and then yell at me about getting trunky!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[I told Calvin we are going to have a party for him the Saturday after he gets home (so the 28th of June) but I want him to focus on these last few weeks of his mission. I compared it to running a race: runners do not run TO the tape at the end of the race, they run THROUGH the tape - so they are still running their fastest at the end of the race, instead of slowing down. I told him "NO GETTING TRUNKY! RUN THROUGH THE TAPE!" (trunky is a term for a missionary who thinks a lot about going home and is focusing more on going home than doing missionary work)]

  

Its ok, i like getting an idea of what is going on at home. here in chicoutimi, we are working hard, trying to see all the people we can. I feel really scared to leave all this work, because i feel like if I leave it, someone will fall through the cracks, but i think i can have confidence in my companion. When I think of home, its more like a "I wish I didnt have all these rules, and had my own car to go teaching with the missionaries, and I could bring them to church, and go into houses with single women without a MOB of people to watch us, and I could just do sooo much more" [Mom explanation here: Male missionaries are not allowed to teach single women unless they bring another male member of the church with them. Just like Female missionaries are not allowed to teach single men unless they bring another female member of the church with them.] BUT life has taught me wisdom. I know that as sooon as I get home, life will be like, " Well guess what, you wont even be ABLE to think about missionary work, because your are going to be BUSY out of your MIND getting sucked into the black hole of work that will NEVER LET YOU OUT UNTIL THEY DAY OU ARE DEAD!!!!!!!! And then the church leaders will PLEAD with people to go teaching with the missionaries, and you will sit there feeling SO GUILTY!!!!!!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHQAHAHAHAHAHA LIFE WINS AGAIN!!!!!" ugh............. I will have to figure it out somehow. until then the only thing to do is be Happy where i am. And I am happy!!!!!! I get to see some of my dearest friends ALL THE TIME!!!! All these people are sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo incredible, and i've only mentioned half of them!!! Not to mention, all the stories I will be telling  YEARS after my mission. I only hope i dont slow down, but keep going and accomplishing lots throughout this short existance on earth. Man, there is a lot to do. 

Mother, i love your writing style. Its so funny!!!! I love our family, and how funny, and lively we are, and how much light we have. I have seen that light in many families here, and I want us to share it with EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love 

Calvin

19 May, 2014

Salut a tous!!!!!!!!!

  Donc, cette semaine etait tres bien passe. on a fait un grand travaille, on a beaucoup du monde qu'on enseigne maitenant, et on a meme trouve une nouvelle amie de l'eglise!!! On est content. 

*Google Translate: "Hi all!!! So this week went very well. it was a great work, there was much of the world is taught now cover, and we even found a new friend of the church! We're happy." I think he means that they have more people to teach now.

  But  other than that, not much going on, just trying to get members to come out teaching with us mostly. That helps so much in our work, when members come out teaching with us. But, the best is when the members have a friend that they have us teach at the members house. That is just a more natural feel. Thats really the thing we want to know, how to make missionary work more of a natural part of the members lives. How to help them see that sharing the Gospel is such a natural thing to do, and how to introduce their friends to the church, and the missionaries. 

  Anyways, I'll get down off my soapbox.........

  Thats really life right now, not much different going on. on a eu quelques miracles cette semaine, comme la femme je viens de mentionner, aussi un member moins active nous a dit qu'elle va venir a l'eglise chaque dimanche a partir de maitenant. Donc, on est tres content!! On travaille avec beaucoup des potentials amies de l'eglise, mais le progress va lentement. Ce n'ets pas facile de s'integrer dans la vie d'un autre person, mais on doit essayer. Je pense que le chose qu'on manque est l'hardiesse. On a peur d'offenser les membres, parce qu'on les aime, et le vrai travaille missionnaire reste avec eux autres. don, maman, s'il te plait, essayer d'aider les missionaires dans leur travaille, et d'aider nos amies d'entrer dans l'eglise!!!

*Google Translate: "we had a few miracles this week, like the woman I mentioned, as a less active member told us that she will come to church every Sunday from now cover. So we are very happy! We work with a lot of potentials friends of the church, but the progress is slow. Ets not that easy to integrate into the life of another person, but we must try. I think the thing we lack is courage. We are afraid of offending members because we love, and the true missionary work stays with them others. gift, mom, please, try to help missionaries in their work and help our friends to enter the church!"

 ok, I'll get off my soapbox again.......... :P

  Anyways, I am missing all of you a LOT!!! I love the people here, and the work that is going on here, but I am SOOOOOOOOOO EXCITED TO SEEE YOU  ALLL!!!!!!!!!!!

Love 

Calvin

Catching up, and SKYPE on Mother's Day!

Calvin even Skyped with Midnight

Sophie was SO happy to see Calvin. He's been gone since she was 2, so pretty much half her life so far.

Nope, not happy at all to Skype with Calvin.

Nope. Not happy at all.

I can't believe it has been over a month since I updated. I am so sorry! Life has been hectic and crazy these last few weeks. Plus I have been lamenting that if plans had continued as we set them up at Christmas, Calvin would be home as of yesterday. But I have always taught my children to listen to Heavenly Father, and to be obedient, and Calvin was obedient to the Lord and extended his mission another transfer. Sometimes teaching your children about faith and obedience, takes a lot of faith and obedience yourself!

12 May, 2014
Hellloooooooo Momm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  Well, seeing you all on Skype was super awesome!!!!!! I am so glad I didnt cry, not that I was close or anything, but I did spill some tears during the mothers day celebration in sacrament meeting. I feel so at home here in this area, its like being in the Greene Branch again!!
  i had a super cool profound thought yesterday. we were on the phone with a lady who is having a tough time. her daughter hasnt spoken to her in a long time, and her husband left her, and she is really hurt from all of that. She has really clung to the branch here, and has clung to the members ever since she was introduced to the church. I thought about her life, how lonely it mush bee, and then I thought about my family whom I saw not a half an hour earlier. as i pondered on all the light, both physical and spiritual, and the warmth, happiness and love that I felt from all of you, all the life, as we all talked at the same time, told jokes, and shared stories, i thought about how many people want that in their lives. Heck, it was my family, and I wanted more of it!!! I began to think about the families that i have seen on my missions who have influenced my outlook on family, and i have found the same basic principles shared throughout all of them, serving others, love one with another, and most of all, a love for the Lord. So, if you could, think about someone this week we can share our family's  light and warmth with. Someone qwho might be lonely at this point and time. I thought that would be a neat idea, and it would really help someone out!
  So that was just a thought that ran through my head this week.
  Well, love you all lots!!!!!!!! Cant wait to see you soon, but until then, DUTY CALLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ( or call of duty, whichever works)
Love
Calvin


 5 May, 2014
Momm,
  I think from now on I am going to have the most horrible time spelling mom for the rest of my life. What a great curse to have! Well, i will probably be skyping at 3ish, give or take an hour or so (my companion might win the arm wrestle on who will go first). Momm, I am so excited to continue working here in this area. I am excited to come home as well, but the Lord needs me here first. I have learned so much here that i can apply to help the Greene Branch for as long as I am going to stay there. Still not sure what to do after that. Oh well figure that out in 7ish weeks.
 Oh, dont worry, i got the connection with the watermelon as well!
 Well, this week, we have been having lots of miracles, from GIANT pots of African food, to investigators and less actives coming to church and bearing INCREDIBLE testimonies, all has been going super well! I was wondering, how well do we know the less or inactive members in our branch at home?
 Other than that not much going on. My companion is a SUPER BOSS. I cant wait for you all to meet him! He likes all the same music as me, is really sportif, and is really fun. He's pretty chill too, so that helps out a lot.
 I wish you all could be here, as mice in my pockets to see and expirience all that I am seeing and expiriencing! So many inside jokes that only make sense to us two, and the people are incredible. I dont know who to introduce you all to, if you can understand them.
 Looking forward to Sunday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LOVE
your son
Calvin

28 April, 2014
Hello WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 Well, this week has been good! TONS of miracles!! We were fed [so well]!!! We ate Haitian rice with plantin and fried porc (SOOOO INCREDIBLE!!!) and we ate some super delicious african rice with a super good sauce. We were in heaven! Other than our incredible members feeding us, we contacted a woman who refferred herself online to us. AND, she took a Book of Mormon, and has begun to read it!! Then she sent us a text that basically explained that her father in law recently passed away, and they are having a hard time to explain death to their kids, and asked if we could come and teach her about it. They have tried Jehovahs Witnesses, and other religions, but they just arent feeling it. So, she remembered that one of her friends had been taught by the missionaries, so they gave it a go! so we are trying to set up an appointment with them right now. Its going to be awesome once we get that going! Oh yeah, then we accidentally broke our phone. Happily we have a backup, but what happened was i had it in my pocket, and it slipped out of my pocket as I was getting into the car, and we ran over it with the truck, totally on accident. And that's not even the best part! We didnt realize that we had dropped the phone until the end of our half an hour journey home!!! So, we ended up calling the appointment from a members house, and they found the phone, and brought it to us the next day, so we could transfer the card to the other phone. That stunk. Then, later that week, we had a dinner appointment with a less active couple, and they came to church the next day!! Both of them!! So that was great! We had a lot of less actives and recent converts at church This week, the Lord really blessed us!
  Right now, our work is primarily composed of Passing by peoples houses to say hi and try to share/set up a lesson, as well as strengthening relationships with some potentials that we have.
  Well, it's going well! Just keeping on, and trying my best.
Love you aLL!!!!!!!!
Calvin

P.S. oh, I probably will be skyping on sunday the 11th it will probably be at 3 o' clock. We will confirm next email, but thats what its looking like right now.

21 April, 2014
Hello!!!
 Well, this week was super great!!!!!!!
  First off, i cant write too much because my companion got to go to the TEMPLE this weekend, so we switched our preperation days, so today I have only a little time to write because we have a lot to do today!!
  So what happened this week was MIRACLES!!!!!! We had a Mormon.org refferral who is SO GOLDEN!!! She asked us for a Book of Mormon before our first rendez-vous because she wanted to prepare herself for it. Then she said she wants to come to church, but couldnt come this week because she was going down to Quebec city. We were STUNNED!!!!!!!! like WOW!! Then we had an appointment with this less active in our ward to cut our hair, because she does it for free, and we wanted to get in contact with them. That rendez vous went well! Then this sunday, the branch is Alma came to be in the sacrament meeting with us, because it was the visit from the stake president, and they re organized the branch in Alma, the man they called literally has been home from his mission for less than a year. Its incredible!!!!!! And we had some really cool part member families and less active people show up to church! It was so cool!!!!! This truly is the Lords work, and we truly are His children, and He truly takes care of us!!!!!!!!!!
love you all!!!!
Calvin

14 April, 2014
Hello EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  Well, this week was AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am soooooooooo happy to be in this area with all these people that I know and love!! So I have to let you all know that I have been taken care of very well! Last week, we had helped clear the last bit of ice off this lady"s driveway that the other missionaries had started earlier this winter. So we got done with that, and the lady"s son in law drove up next to us and was like " hey thanks for doing that. You are awefully dilligent!" So we were like yeah, any time anyone needs help we are there to help them out!! well, that sunday of General Conference, the lady came to church, which was awesome because she is less active and she was like " You need to stop by my daughter's house later today! We have a surprize for you!" So we stopped by and that guy was there with her daughter ( they were married) and the lady was there as well, and they had 2 big bags and one HUGE box in front of them, and they were like " You have done so much for us this winter, we wnated to do a little something for you in return!!" We were floored!!!! Not just because they were doing this , but because they are nonmembers. This means they now know that we are super nice people! So we were really happy about that! [yes, I cried when I read this part. I am so very grateful for those angels who watch over and take care of my son!]
  This week was BUSY. we did a lot of passbyes as well as lessons with people. Our missionary correlation meeting was super good too, we are going to be visiting the members this month and over the course of the upcoming months to pass out "plans Missionaire familliale" to all the members so they can start sharing the Gospel with those who are around them.
  From Conference I liked the talk from the priesthood session by President Uchtdorf on Dont sleep through the Restoration, and I liked the one by eler d todd Christopherson on Jesus christ. It was cool how all of these talks talked about courage. I think that the Lord is trying to tell us to prepare for something large that is coming soon.
 Well, I love you all!!!!!!!!!!
Calvin

7 April, 2014
Hello all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well, I have been ecstatic this week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Chicoutimi is exactly as I remember it, but better!! A few new people had gotten baptized, a few investigators whom I have taught are coming to church functions, adding to our little family here!! I think thats why I like it up here, its like a big family, reminding me of the Greene branch, and how we were all so close together. That is super important, to be close to each other in whatever unit we are in, because it is this closeness that enriches our lives, and makes it all worth it. This week, due to General Conference, I asked myself a question. This question was directly linked to the fresh experience of packing my bags to go to chuicoutimi. I wanted to pack a little lighter, so I had to get rid of some stuff. So I asked myself, what did I need and what did I not need. I found myself saying the same thing as that woman in the Phillippinnes, I have aquired a lot of garbage over my time as a missionary. And it helped me think of what is truly important, my family and friends. Being here in Chicoutimi has shown to me how important these relationships are. They are the treasure of heaven. Its been a powerful lesson the Lord has taught me this week.
  Well, we had a funny expirience this week. We had parked our truck, and a young woman had parked her car right next to us. Walking away I had a feeling that we needed to talk to her. So, we decided to go and talk to her. So, my companion jumps in the bed of the truck to act as if he's organizing or doing something similar. leaving me to contact her. So, I walk up, and ask the first question I can come up with " Excuse me m' am, do you know where I can get another one of.......... " and I totally drew a blank on the word for shovel. So, she hearing my anglephone accent, asked me to show her the thing I was asking for. So I brought her over to the truck to show her the shovels. Upon further talking and questioning about what we want the shovel for, we said we are full time service volonteers, and we share the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to my utter surprize, she said she was interested!! The Lord DOES lead us, if we will simply listen to His whisperings.
 I love you all!!!!!!
Calvin

Catch Up Again

So I got sick the beginning of March for a week, then the 2 week migraine pitched in, then another week of headaches. Sorry this is so late in coming.

10 March, 2014
Helllooooooooo ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  Well, what happened this week? Well, I had a zone training meeting to plan, then a training to give, which was stressful, and then we had splits back to back. that was fun though. I went on splits with fellow nerds, so that was fun! Not much is really changing this week, just working away, trying to help people see why and how God can help them in their lives. It's pretty incredible the problems everyone has. I am sooooooooo lucky that I dont have family issues, and all problems i have are with myself, so I know i can overcome them. We are working with people who struggle with things that range from smoking to deep depression stemming from abuse and neglect. I thought missionaries weren't supposed to council people on personal problems!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Well, the Atonement can heal all, so long as we are willing to put the effort into it. Thats one big thing i have learned lately! Never lose Faith, because life is terrible without it. 

  Well, I hope you all are doing well!!

  [Calvin's friend is on her mission in the Pacific Northwest] HOW IS YOUR MISSION!?!?!?!?!?! I hope you are being a better missionary than me, but lets be honest sisters are WAY better than elders. The sisters that are here are working miracles!! who are your investigators? How is your mission applying Hastening the Work? How often do you go knocking? 

  I love you all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Calvin

17 March, 2014

HELLO EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, things are kinda cold out here. not toooo toooo bad, but enough to be annoying. We just had a priesthood meeting on hastening the Work, and all the sister missionaries were invited to be a part of it. It was a fantastic meeting!!!!!! It showed how strongly the Lord wants this work to be done in specific areas, and how each specific area will receive the same revelation as we do in General Conference. It was a super powerful experience. We had a man who had been re-activated two weeks prior to this occasion stand up and bear testimony. He told everyone of the power of this work, and how it was through the specific combined efforts of many dedicated ward members that brought this man and his family back to the church. It was sooo cool to feel the spirit that strongly. This man urged us to look around and think of those who werent there, and to help them to come back, to invite them into our lives. 

  Another cool thing was our mission President, President Patrick, said that the work of salvation looks like a redundant system because it is. It's redundant to ensure success!!! I thought that was very powerful, because we all need to be acting and in SOME cases it doesnt matter WHO does the task, all that matters is it gets done. 

  That was definately the highlight of the week. This next wek looks pretty cool because our mission will be visited by and Apostle, Neil L Anderson, A member of the presiding Bishopric, Gerald Causse, a member of the presidency of the seventy, Donald L Hallstrom, and our area Seventy David Homer. As well as all four of the Stake Presidents in our mission. WOW. What a meeting that will be. We are VERY excited as a mission. to say the least. Yeah, we have known about this for a while, I just have never written about it. sorry! But thats the big moment for our week.

 Well thats just a little look into whats going on up here in the GREAT WHITE NORTH!!

Calvin

[I sent another email to Calvin telling him that I had gone to teach a lesson with the Sister Missionaries here in our branch. I also asked him if he knew of good places to stay when we visit Canada this summer. His reply was:]

I am soooooooooo SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO glad you went out with them!!! It helps a lot, and I hope you had fun! 

I will keep an eye out for hotels. Like that really nice one all the limoes pull up to everyday.......... :) Well, I love you and I will keep my eye out! Hey have dad look into Algonquin college in ottawa,  the University of Ottawa, and Carleton. Algonquin has some video game projects, i think, so have him look into it. Love you!!!!!

24 March, 2014

Momm,

 Well, You arent the only one working on patience, because I am trying to as well! It really stinks when you know you are wrong, but don't want to change. Oh well, I'll have to get going on it, I want to make it to the Celestial Kingdom with everyone else! 

  Well, this week was INCREDIBLE spiritually. We had a few days to work hard at our missionary work, but I've been feeling for a while we need to really get going on teaching different people, trying to find those ones who will  receive us. Its hard to leave or let so many people go that we love so much, but I want the work to go on. But we have a few people who are super cool that we are working with, we just have to help them keep progressing. 

  Then we had some service at this place called Ottawa Mission, which was SO FUN!!! I love ottawa mission. Service is super fun for us. THen we ate at a families house and that was awesome, they are trying to do lots of missionary work, and then after that we packed up for MONTREAL!!!!!!!!!!! So, the next day we went to Mission leadership council at 10am in montreal. We got up at 530am. Noooooooooooo my presssssiousssss sslleeeeeeeppppppp............... but we had an AWESOME time at Mission leadership council. After that, got my temple recomend interview after eating pizza, and then we left to go to the temple!!! That was incredible! I did sealings, and I enjoyed it immensley! The Spirit was so strong, and I learned a lot. "The Power of godliness is" TRULY "Manifest in the ordinances" Cant tell you which section of the Doctrine and Covenants thats in, but its in there, and its TRUE! 

  Then we cane back, ate ( the assistants had cooked us some food, MAN they are AWESOME!) and then crashed. 

  The next day was the BIG DAY! We learned so much!!!! Elder Anderson has pretty good French! Honestly, I was most excited hearing Bishop Causses talk all in french, but I learned Lots to apply to my personal life after and during my mission. We come on missions to serve the Lord, but I think they all want us to realize that the Lord asks us to serve so that He can change us into the people we aught to be. when else are we going to be doing home teaching 24/7? When Else will we be serving others 24/7? When else will we be studying the Gospel and its doctrines for 2 hours each day, not to mention 1 hour of language study to boot!? Its a marvelous time to build a foundation for a testimony. One of the seventies said that your mission may not be the spiritual high point of your life, but it will and can be the spiritual foundation for your life. The biggest point I think they emphasized was that we need to ACT to "seal" this knowledge by our actions. 

  It was a super big and great expirience. 

Sunday was another spiritual day for me. I love the sacrament, and what it means for me! When i take it, peace fills my soul, burdens are lifted, and it's about the only point in time that I dont have to worry about anything but soaking in the spirit. I love this Gospel!!

Love you all!!!!!!!

Calvin

31 March, 2014

Hey all!!!!!!!!!!

  So my days in Champlain are over. I am transferred................. BACK TO CHICOUTIMI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am SOOOOOOOOOO PUMPED!!!! I am so excited to work there, and to work hard. I will be district leader again. I am sooo excited to see all these people I love soooo much! 

  this week went well, apparently a lot better that I thought because We apparently taught more lessons than usual this week. That was good. I got to see a few investigators I hadnt seen in a while and some less actives I hadnt met before. So that went well. I have learned a lot about humility and why its so important. The book of mormon especially is SUPER packed with sermons against Pride and things that come with it. 

  One thing that I have been trying to do this week, that I havent done well on AT ALL is reading the book of mormon for personal study reading. I have found that the book of mormon as a just read through is super! Its interesting and the things they teach you if you take a moment to stop and read the footnotes (SCUBA dive as my seminary teacher would say) its incredible the things you find in there. Some thing I found on my mission is people who dont want to come to church or read their scriptures or even pray arent very happy people, nor very active people. Its simple, if you want to stay active, pray. Because the more you pray the easier it becomes to read the scriptures. The easier it is to read your sciptures, the easier it is to come to church. The more you come to church the easier it is to stay "unspotted from the world" BUT this is all could be a PASSIVE approach. To be a true disciple we must be active in our salvation. We must WORK on this. Its something that I have been working on is being active in my salvation, which means making good habits more fully keeping covenants and commandments and truly BEING what Christ and God want me to be. and its hard, but luckily we have the atonement to help us out. But again, WE have to go to the bar the Lord has set. 

  Well, those were just some thoughts I had

LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CALVIN

[Calvin only has two transfers left on his mission. So about 12 weeks left.]

At least it's Meteorological Spring

Hot off the presses! Here's this week's letter.

Momm,

  *YAY!!!!!!!!!!!! REJECTED AGAIN!!!!!!!!!! Well, that means that i get to go somewhere BETTER!!!!!!! Well, up here in ottawa and montreal is a whole bunch of schools, like algonquin college, and university of ottawa, and mcgill in montreal ( but I dont know much about those montreal schools, never went there!!) +Oh well, back to plan A.

 ^I felt bad about the whole staying longer, but I feel that the Lord knows what He is doing, and what I can do here. One more transfer to get French!!!!!!!!!!!! Ummmm....... Well this week I [have a] new companion. I am really excited to get to know him better and get the work running faster here is this ward. There isnt much new going on, just the same old same old, calls, appointments getting refferals, trying to talk to everyone and overcome that fear of contacting, eating with members, just normal missionary life!! Its interesting, but its like a game of solitaire. its only interesting to the person playing it. Its got SOOOOOOOOO much strategy and planning and moves and stuff like that. Thats how I am looking at missionary work right now. it has actually become something I am having lots of fun doing, seeing something work and give results is the best part of the mission. Yeah, having lots of fun up here. We finally got to see [a] family this week!! They are doing well. Their home teachers went to see them this week, which was AWESOME!!!!! it really helped them out a lot. home teaching is so important!!! 

  Thanks so much for your prayers and your support!!!!!! especially your letters and emails!!!!! Love you all and hope you all keep doing welL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Calvin

*I told Calvin that BYU Provo had denied him admittance again. Their loss.

+Calvin hadn't really planned on going there anyway.

^I told Calvin I was really sad about him extending for another transfer. We were looking forward to him coming home right after Mother's Day. It would have been nice, and he could have done some things that he won't be able to do now that he's coming home in June. BUT Heavenly Father is in charge, and when the Lord asks you to do something, it is for a good reason.

24 February, 2014

Calvin and I were able to "chat" a little on the computer today. He had questions about when college started, if he had enough money to finish his mission if he stayed later (into June) and things. Background: when the church changed the missionary ages for young men and young women, somehow one of the transfer weeks was shortened (probably because of the shortened MTC stays) to 4 weeks. According to a Sister I spoke with at the Mission Office (remember how I said it's hard to coordinate a BYU application with a missionary? Yah, I had to call the mission office a few times) the missionaries have been given two dates for their return home: May 16 and June 26. May 16 is two weeks shy of two years for Calvin. June 26 is four weeks over two years. Calvin has prayed about it and feels he should stay for the "extra" 4 weeks. It's sort of a bummer for me because we had talked about it at Christmas while Skyping with Calvin and had told him he could be offered these dates and we told him it was his decision but we told him of a few opportunities he would have if he came home earlier, that would never be available again if he came home later. I was excited at the prospect of him coming home right after Mother's Day, but as has been a pattern all my life, once I start talking about something and telling people about it, it doesn't happen. Calvin has chosen to sacrifice those opportunities to serve the Lord.

Today's email:

HHHHHHHHHHHHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

   Sooooooooooooo this week was interesting. I ate with my companions family!! That was so wierd.  It was super fun though! I liked being with his family. i felt at home with them. Then the next day we went to the government building where after a long time the news came that [his family] had recieved their residency!!!!!!!! They are now official residents of Canada!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We shed tears, laughed, and were soooooo happy. Then, i spent the last night of [another Elder's] mission with him. So I served in a spanish branch for basically 24 hours. That was fun. They had a surprize going away party for [the Elder], and it was sooooooooooo good. the next day was transfers which was hectic, as usual, but we got through it. Luckily this was a smaller group of missionaries than last time I had to go to ottawa, and there wasnt that much luggage. Montreal metros are fun to ride, and metro contacting is intense but i didnt do very well contacting. 

  And then the rest of the week went pretty well. We didnt teach as much as i would have liked, but we got a lot of important things done, and one of our investigators came to church which was AWESOME!!!!!!!!! She hasnt come in a while, so it was awesome!

  Well, i dont want to hog the computer from all the other elders here, better get going, 

  I love you alll!!!!!!!!!!

Keep up the good work!!!!!

Invite friends over when the missionaries come over!!!!

Go teaching with them

do your home and visiting teaching!!!

LOVE
Calvin

HAPPY ANNNIVERSARY GRANDMA AND GRANDPA!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

18 February, 2014 Playing catchup

Calvin is now 21 years old. If you look really hard, you can still see that 3 year old, blonde, tornado that I will always see.

When I looked at the most recent post on the blog, the reality of the last 2 months hit me. I have been putting together a party for Calvin's Pettengill grandparents' 50th Anniversary. I had set aside January and February to work on their party - or more specifically work on a memory book for them - which has taken a lot more work than I figured! But isn't that always the case? I have gone through at least 1,000 photographs, slides, and cds of photographs in the past two months and culled out about 355 photographic images. This entailed photographing slides (no, I don't have a slide scanner), scanning photographs and then separating the images on the computer, and downloading images from cds. I still have this nagging feeling that I have forgotten some image that I accidentally saved to a different folder on the computer. So I apologize profusely for this two-month hiatus!

Where did we leave off? Oh yah, Christmas and the Skype with Calvin.

30 December, 2013

Hey everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Its so cold up here!!!!! But I wouldnt rather be anywhere else. I almost feel like yes, I need to be here. 

  So Skyping with you all was FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Momm I loved the quidditch tee shirt,* and seeing everyone was great! Sorry about the ecclesiastical report, I dont know whats taking so long. I will have to contact president about that. # So, as far as cool things this week go, we spent a lot of time visiting people on Christmas. People who would be lonely other wise.It felt so good to see these people, and see the happiness that christmas brings to their lives. We also saw An investigator we havent seen in a while, and we are certain she will get baptized. it was soooooooooooooo good to see her! I get anxious when I dont see investigators for a while, often to the chargrin of my companions. I got the Family yearbook, and LOVED IT!!!!!!!! So, funny story, my roommates got a hold of my last one, and asked who cousin Elizabeth was. They bugged me about it until I told them, and when this yearbook came in they were like "Where is Elizabeth, dang it!?!?" Dont tell her she has a few admirers!! $ Any who, We also had some really cool miracles with key ward members giving us people to go and visit, so we went and visited them, and some were receptive. They are all Less actives, so we are excited to work with them, to hopefully get some refferrals. How do the missionaries back home find investigators? Do they work lots with less actives? 

  So those were some cool miracles this week. Momm, when do you need the ecclisiastical report by again?

   Well, I hope all of you are doing well!

Love Calvin

*Chantal gave me a BYUI Quidditch t-shirt so of course I wore it to Skype with Calvin.

#Trying to coordinate applications to colleges via e-mail is nailbitingly frustrating. Especially when it seems like the error was on the part of the missionary. But the Sisters who work in the Mission Home are so very kind and patient!

$ Grandma Pettengill makes a yearbook every year for our family. The 4 of us children send her photos of our families' activities and she organizes them into a book. Since about half of the grandkids are in college or adults, they sent in their own pictures this year. There is a picture of Elizabeth in the yearbook, Elizabeth is just sort of small in it. Sorry Calvin, I had to leave that story in.

Next email!

6 January, 2014

Salut mama!!!!
Peut-tu traduire ce lettre et l'envoyer aux autres? Merci beaucoup! 

Bon, en premier, on a eu des transfers, et moi même, je reste en ottawa, avec [my companion]. ça marche pour moi! j ai haute pour cela. Donc, cette semaine, on à eu des exchanges, qui était remplis des miracles, et on à eu le missiona leadership council, qui est toujhours bon. Le pluaàpart de nos miracles viennent quand les membres nous aide avec le travaille, par example on à eu  un lesson avec notre amie et on à invité la famille * de les énseigner avec nous, et c'était un leçon FORMIDABLE!!!!!!!!! l'esprit etait TRÉS fort dans cette leçon, et Beaucoup des craintes [the investigator] était calmé. 

Désolé  que cela est trés courte, mais on a besoin de quitter! (avant que J'ai commencé cette courriel, je ne pouvais pas trouver un ordinateur qui était libre! tabarwette!)

Je t'aime Mama!!!!!

Calvin

I love to put these emails through Google translate. Here's what it translated:

Hi mama!! 

Can you translate this letter and send it to others?Thank you very much! 

Well, first, we had transfers, and myself, I stay in Ottawa, with [my companion]. it works for me! I have high for it. So this week we had to exchanges, which was filled with miracles, and had to missiona leadership council, which is toujhours good. The pluaàpart our miracles come when members help us with the work, for example we had a lesson to our friend and invited to the family * to teach us, and it was a GREAT lesson!! !! the spirit was very strong in this lesson, and many fears [the investigator] had calmed down. 

Sorry this is very short, but we need to leave! (before I started this email, I could not find a computer that was free! tabarwette!) 

I love you Mama!! 

Calvin

*I took out names for privacy

Next email!

13 January, 2014

Momm

J'ai aucune idee pourquoi vous avez eu des reves si bizzare. Mais, c'est vrai que j'aimerai bien que vous chequez mon face book, au cause du fait qu'il y a des personnes que j'aime bien adjouter de mon facebook. Mais plus important, peut-tu chequer mon application de BYU? mon ecclisiastical endorsement n'est pas accessible de President Patrick.

  Cette semaine j'ai eu une expirience tres formidable avec l'esprit. Pendant la journee on prend le contact avec beaucoup des personnes. Pour le plupart du temps, on prend leur numeros de telephone. Hier J'en ai pris deux, et pendant la nuit j'ai fait dans mes prieres une resume de ma journee et mes efforts. J'ai eu l'impression d'appeler deux de ces numeros. c'etait  22h le soir, donc ce n'etait pas le temp ideal d'appeler les gens, Mais je l'ai fait. J'ai eu une impression d'appeler une des numeros, mais j'ai appele l'autre, pensant que cette homme sera plus interresse de nous rencontre, mais, Il n'a repondu pas. Donc, J'ai appele l'autre. Il a repondu, et on a fixe une rendez vous de dejeuner avec lui. Je suis certain que c'etait le seigneur qui m'a inspire de appeler cet homme. J'espere que toute serra bien ce mercredi avec notre rendez vous. Mais je suis certain que c'est l'oeuvre du seigneur, et Il ferra sa volontee. 

 J'ai voulu partager ca avec vous! 

Je vous aime!!!
Calvin

Again, Google translate:

Momm

I have no idea why you were so bizzare dreams . But it is true that I will like you chequez my face book , because of the fact that there are people that I like my device ADD facebook. But more importantly, can you checker my BYU application ? ecclisiastical my endorsement is not accessible from President Patrick .

  This week I had a very great expirience with the mind [the Spirit, the Holy Ghost]. During the day we take contact with many people . For the most part, we take their phone numbers . Yesterday I took two , and during the night I had in my prayers a summary of my day and my efforts. I felt like calling these two numbers . it was 22h in the evening , so it was not the ideal temperature [the ideal time, this is why I love to put these into Google translate!] to call people , but I did. I had a sense of calling one of the numbers , but I called the other , thinking that this man will be interrested to meet us, but He has not answered . So I called the other. He replied , and we fixed a spot of lunch with him. I'm sure it was the Lord who inspired me to call this man. I hope that all shook out this Wednesday with our appointment. But I am sure it is the work of the Lord, and He shoed his volontee. [Again, SO FUNNY!! But I think he means "takes care of His volunteers" - meaning missionaries.]

 I wanted to share with you ca !

I love you !

Calvin

Calvin sent several emails that day. He was excited about an upcoming baptism on the 25th. I know he is caught up in missionary work when he mentions a baptism that will occur on his birthday but he doesn't even acknowledge that it will be his birthday.

Next email! There are a few from this week, I must have caught him on the computer and emailed back and forth about the ecclesiastical endorsement. I ran into one of his professors from Broome Community College and took a picture (with my phone) of him waving to Calvin. 

20 January, 2014

WOW!!!! I actually thought a little about him this week. How much I miss art class with Z. Dang, well tell him hi for me!!!

 Thanks for the picture that made my day!!!!
Calvin

HEY WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, this week was awesome. I was super excited because I feel like I really did some true missionary work, and got 300x more effective. We found 2 new investigators this week (finally!!!!!!) and they are both pretty cool. We did something different this week. we started calling people friday and saturday and we set up all the appointments for the week ahead of time. Yes, my companion was doing this when I first got here, but it didnt hit me just how effective this is until this week!!!! It was soooo much better.  [Hmmm. I must have forgotten to teach him the part about calling a week in advance to set up appointments?!]

  So, big news, we havew a BAPTISM COMING UP THIS WEEK!!!!!!!!!!! ON THE 25TH!!!!!!!! YAY!!!!! [Our investigator] is FINALLY getting baptized! We are going to try and have daily contact with her this week, and we will have members call her each day this week to talk to her. I wonder if its against mission rules to get family members to call her......... hmmm....   

 Any ways, lastt night we had a really cool stake meeting about Hastening the Work of salvation, where in our Mission President and the Stake President explained to all the stake how to work with ward councils. It was very enlightening to me how this process should go. My whole mission has enlightened me on how the church should and does function, and how the Bretheren do truly recieve revelation, the Lord knows our day. Its cool, to be here and see this change unfolding, from knocking for 5 hours, to meeting with ward councils, and truly discussing as a council how the Lord wants things done. 

 Oh yeah, i saw tons of people in Chapel Hill ward, and was in heaven saying hi to all of them!!!!!! so much has changed and so much hasn't. [Chapel Hill was his first ward when he was a "greenie Elder."]

 Man, the Lord truly knows his sheep. I have had so many expiriences this week where I got onto a bus, and saw someone, and felt like i needed to talk to them, talked with other people, then talked to this person, and they are interested, or something cool happens like that. Those promptings are slight, and they need to be obeyed. I really need to work on obeying them.....

  Well, That's all for this week, I love you all!!!!!!
Calvin

I answered him back and told him his Grandma Hargrave said Happy Birthday and how I was lamenting the fact that he would be 21 years old, but I still see him as that 3 year old blonde tornado. His reply:

momm

yeah I have accepted that fact that i am always going to be your little boy, and i am ok with that. you are about the only person in this world with that privilege! tell dad i love him!!!!!!

Love calvin

Calvin sent the picture at the beginning of this post with these emails. It was fun to send back and forth with him, but even nicer to finally get some answers to my questions!! The boy never answers questions unless I catch him right there!

Next email:

27 January, 2014

Hey Momm!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cold? Well i guess it is cold if i think about it. Its only been cold when I dont wear my thermals, and of course those are the coldest days!!!! BUT!! I have not lost feeling in my toes nor fingers, nor ears, maybe a little on my nose, but nothing has turned black nor has it fallen off, so i'm ok!!! Now is the time i wish i was cold blooded because apparently cold blooded animals can freeze, thaw, and still survive. (according to a story about a rattle snake I heard) But, alack, such luck is not to be mine! 

  So this week we had a baptism!!!!!!!! And it was a good one. We had three people baptized that day!! A mother and her son, and a chinese man. that was a powerful baptism, I felt the Spirit VERY strongly in that baptism. 

So the week was full of odder things like a trip to montreal for Mission leadership council, a split in YSA, and this three way baptism. It was a good week! we had lots to do and accomplished lots. As well, I learned a lot more about consecration, and sanctifying yourself. It was a good week. And I got lots of birthday wishes. Having a baptism on your birthday is a very special expirience! 

  *Momm, with your new calling, yes look up ALL YOU CAN about it!!! In our Stake here, the Stake President has asked that we bring Family History Cunsultants to our lessons and make them fellowshippers for our investigators asap because we want our investigators to go to the temple with their own names because if an investigator goes to the temple within the first month of teir baptism they have a 50%(?) likely hood of staying active in the church, but if they do that with names from their own families the likely hood is increased to 80%!! So your calling is EXCEPTIONALLY IMPORTANT!!!!!!!!!!!! Get involved with our branches'  investigators and less actives because your role will make a serious difference!!!!! :):):) I am sooooooooooo glad that you have this calling because you will listen to me!:) 

  sorry rant over......... I'm not perfect with bringing these people to my lessons yet, so....... but we are trying!!! and we will repent!!!! 

  Funny story about having a talk always ready, but the sunday before this last one the 19th to be exact, my companion and I were called to give talks because the dates for when the stake leader was supposed to be there were all mixed up, so we ended up having to give 5 minute talks each. Well they ended up being more like 5-10 minute talks each, and for my talk I just talked about the first 4 articles of faith and their relationship with each other. it was an ok talk, but i think everyone knew that it was a last second prepared thing. -_- oh well...... 

  Well, i think my time is just about up love yoU!!!!!!!!!!

Calvin

*I got a new calling to be Family History Teacher in our branch.

Next email:

3 February, 2014

Momm

So could I send a video for grandma and grandpa? I just got the permission to do it, so I would love to send you something like that, and then you could show it to them or trascribe it. OR, I could write something out. I'll figure it out. I do have a sketchbook that I can part with. at least three. so dont worry. 

 As far as presentation goes, i'll have to see what they want me to present. I have thought about that a little, and the only thing that would really interest them is my Quebecois accent and probably all the swear words I know......... But we will worry about that later. and i would have to taste the poutine before we give it out. gotta make sure its good. we could give them tourtiere du lac st jean, or tart au sucre, or heck I could let them watch tete a klack, but we'll have to see. 

  So, last night i ate with the coolest family ever!!!! we had toast out of a cylon toaster, and they made their daughter a star treck ng quiet book, and they are a total 80s metal family. SSSSSSSSSSSSSOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO COOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!! gotta visit them after the mission! As far as missionary work goes, we are trying to get involved more in the members family missionary work, and helping the ward to track down less active members. momm, dad DO YOUR HOME AND VISITING TEACHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It makes life soooooooooo  much easier for everyone in the ward!!

well, j'espere que j'ai rependu a tout vos questions, 

je t'aime mama!!!!!

Calvin

Next email:

10 February, 2014

Momm

  So I have been doing well here, and i have been very thankful for your prayers. they have carried me through tough time that i have gone through. so first off i want to say that I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO  SAD that i missed Mirandas birthday party, but I will party hard with you after word, when i get back from my mission. Also, Y'ALL HAD CHICKEBN HAZELNUT TORTELLINI WITHOUT ME?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??! hope it was good! I love the dress miranda has!! super cool! I hope she had fun with it! Umm... so as far as this week goes, we had a big surprize, but our recent convert part member family is expecting a baby!!!! they just got the news like last week!! We are blown away at how cool that is for this family! As far as the work goes, we are focusing more than ever on helping people get their family mission plans up and running, and taking members out teaching with us. There have also been really cool developments in the way our war [ward, Calvin, ward!] council has been working. So, my missionary soapbox moment for the week: do you have a Family Mission Plan written out? Will you discuss it in family council? My part of that mission plan that I will do is this week, I will make a conscious effort to talk to 5 people each day about the Gospel. 

  I gotta go, but I love you all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Calvin

Next email:

17 February, 2014

So don't have a lot of time right now, I'm going to Montreal today because my companion has a court date.I am going to send the SD card in my package with my sketchbooks.

No my drivers licence renewal requires an eye exam, so I wanted to wait to get that renewed.

Can't remember the last thing.

Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm so this week has been both great and stressful. My companion is leaving, and he is going to court to get his residency and we have a zone training meeting to plan, and we've ticked off a few people because we have been too spread out in our area because we are on busses. But that's the life, isn't it? 

We'll, we did get a less active man to church for the second time this week!! And a super cool member family introduced us to one of their friends. So that was awesome. this family has a cute 3 year old daughter who knows all the Star Wars characters by sight! Reminded me of Sophie!! 

sorry today was shorter, but I will send letters to all y'all this week!!!

Love

calvin

Last email. And I really could have done without getting this one. Just sayin' it's really hard when for 2 months you've been thinking your missionary son will be coming home in May, and then you get this email. But this is Calvin's mission, and this is between Calvin and the Lord. I want Calvin to feel like he's served honorably.

I wrote to him:

Thanks! I hope you have a better week this week.
Love,
MoMM

He wrote back:

yeah me too, just waiting for my comp now. hey president has asked what day I want to go home, and he has suggested that I stay for the longer date to help the mission have enough missionaries to hold them until this next transfer. I will pray about it, but I do not know what my answer will be yet. he wants my response by next week, so I just wanted to let you know this decision has been given to me. love you lots!!!!!!

Calvin