Birthday package arrived! Pretty early, but at least it's there!

Dear Home Base,

 

Elder Call here.

Mission Field Status: White and ready to harvest

Companion Status: Positive

Training Status: Crazy

 

Pretty much I am really tired but really happy. Good combo right? The mission field is great. I love it here in Canada! Elder Smith and I have been getting down to business to defeat the Huns. And by Huns I mean Satan. Because man, he is one hard worker! But, we've got the Lord, so its all good. I told Erin that one of the downs of the mission is when investigators cancel appointments. I explained that it is like having a girl call and say that she can't go on that date with you... but worse!! But, when you start seeing people progress, make changes, and start doing the little things, that is when it is all worth it!

 

We live in a great ward. The ward is really supportive to us as missionaries. Which is awesome!! I love the ward we live in. It is really good. As far as training goes it is so crazy. Hard but good. Tiring but fantastic! I have enjoyed it. My companion is really quiet, but he is a good elder. We've been trying to work really hard, and now I think we just need to start working more effectively. Through the members! The members are the best way to find new investigators. They are the ones who can most effectively prepare people to hear the message of the restored gospel. Because I will tell you what, tracting just doesn't work that well. So pretty much, member missionary work is the way to go.

 

I don't really have any crazy-awesome stories for the week, but I did eat foofoo a couple days ago!! (Thats right Zach Rogers, like real West African food!!) Foofoo was actually quite good! We also had cow foot too, which was interesting. We get quite the variety up here in Canada! I thought I would be eating normal foods like spagetti and lasagna, but nope! The mission sends all sorts of good surprises to ya! Its great!

 

The mission is great. Best, craziest, most exciting, yet hard 3 months of my life! Buh-duh buh buh buuuuh, I'm loving it! The church is true. I can't deny that. God loves us and watches over us. He really does love all His children. Christ is our Savior. Joseph Smith is a prophet. The Book of Mormon is true. Families can be together forever. These simple truths have helped me so much through my life, and I know that they can help everyone. And as Bob and Larry from VeggieTales put it, "God made you special, and He loves you very much."

 

I love you all! Have a great week!

 

Love,

Elder Call

{We emailed Spenc some photos. Pics of the family and what not. Plus we sent a photo of his good friend Kimball with Grace & Zac. Kimball brought a big watermelon from his garden to both Grace and Zac on their (shared) birthday, so I took a picture of the three of them and sent it to Spenc. Here's his response to the photos I sent:}

Haha I love the pictures!! Tell Kimball thanks for being a great guy the next time he stops by. But all the pictures are so great! I love them!! Thanks :)

Grace (13), Kimball, and Zac (10)

August 28, 2013

Birthday day!

I agree! Thanks to Kimball for being such a great guy!!! :) 

We love you Elder Call! Thanks for your love and service!!

And here is part of the letter that he emailed me {mom}:

Kimball is getting his call?? That is so great! I am guessing Switzerland. The same mission as Josh Spencer :) Thats my guess.

 

Glad Erin is enjoying being the "oldest". It sounds like they are all enjoying school and all that good stuff!

Glad dad is getting some work! They picked the right man for the job! He'll do great.

 

Thanks for all the prayers, emails, letters, and the package! I actually got it already. Crazy, right? {crazy fast! It only took 10 days to arrive. It was a medium size (think shoebox) flat rate box - with the flat rate to Canada being $41! I wanted to mail it in enough time to get there by his birthday September 21! Yay, it made it, with plenty of time to spare!!} That was pretty fast! So I will contain myself and not open it! But thank you so much! I love you mom and I am grateful for your example! Glad you were able to talk with Sister Middlemiss! She is great! The Middlemiss family is so awesome! Pretty much our whole ward is fantastic. Love 'em all!

 

Thanks again for all you do! I love you so much Mom!  {He also mentioned in another part of my letter that he loves Elder S, whom he is training. He said that he is having to really get out of his comfort zone and talk a lot, because Elder S is a tad bit quiet. Then he added:  "I feel if he were anything but a human he would be a peanut. So pretty much what I'm trying to say is I'm trying to crack him open! Whenever he talks he always has good stuff to say." I love that they are working together so well and I hope and pray that they become lifelong friends!}

Love,

Elder Call