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