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? :)