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| 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. |
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!
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
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
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
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
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