Staying in Coaldale

{I sure love this kid! Here is my letter from him Monday. It is very touching, very personal, and very much full of answered prayers}
Mom, you teach every day. You may not realize that. I've learned so much from you and dad. Don't ever think that your studies and your efforts go to waste! Just because you aren't always in a teaching position or setting doesn't mean that you still can't be a teacher and example.

Well, I think I took Lulu (our Volvo) on the freeway once before but that was to go to the mall. And you knew about it. But anywho, Erin told me that she learned some valuable lessons, so that's good. Plus, everyone needs to get on a bike sometimes (remember Elder Sants' email about that??).  (for those of you who don't know, our Volvo died this week)

Happy that all is well in the Call household, other than the few car misshaps'. Haha, I love the story about Zac and Erin. {Zac eating all of Erin's peas and carrots at dinner like Spenc used to!} That is hilarious!!

Thanks for the encouragement and for your testimony as well. I love you so much!

So I'll end with the questions!

How is your new companion??!! Details!! Where he's from, name, how long he's been out, etc... Does his arrival make you co-senior companions? Are you Sr. companion? How does that work??

Ha, I got Elder Smith again!! I'm Senior Comp, and its been going well! (Spencer trained Elder Smith up in Calgary August - November of this year, then Spenc was transferred to Coaldale....Looks like Elder Smith got transferred right to Coaldale now, too!!!)

How compatible are the two of you? Similarities? Differences?

Its good!! Ha, just like awhile ago :)

How was your week in Coaldale?

Good good good! I'll update more in the Big Kahuna. (the next letter he sends to everyone)

Did you go to one ward on Sunday? Or several? What time does your ward meet on Sundays?

One ward at 10am :)

What did you do for dinner on Sunday night to break your fast? What did you have to eat?

We went to a members house for dinner and had some chinese stuff. It was good!

What weekly emails do you get (besides family)?

Some from friends. Some other friends send letters, which I enjoy too :)

I loved reading your letters from last week. Tearing up the ward list, huh? That's awesome. We've been praying for you and your companion in so many ways! 

Thanks mom! I love you!!

  

So, I want to tell you about what I feel are some of the biggest successes I've seen on the mission.

So, back to Elder :) . (this is the Elder he became companions with when he was transferred to *** 7 weeks ago). I was having a rough time when one day he told me that he stayed on a mission because of me. He said that him and his last companion didn't do much and he didn't feel like it was worth staying, but he was going to wait one week and see how it went. He said that because I decided to work and to do stuff that he decided to stay on a mission. That was pretty great to hear.

Elder Call with his Zone (above) and his District (below).

My companion now told me the second day he was here that he wanted to go home. To sum it up he said that he didn't really feel like he had a testimony and that the mission was too hard. I spent the last few days talking with him a lot. Friday night we were up til 3 in the morning. On Saturday President Nicholas came down and spoke with him. He gave him a talk to read and to pray about. He also spoke with me. He told me that I know Elder Smith better than anyone else here on the mission and there was a reason the Lord put him back with me. Later that day after Elder *** read the talk, he came out of the bedroom and asked what we were going to do. It made me so happy! So we've been getting to work every since. The Lord can truly change people. Elder *** bore his testimony on Sunday about the Atonement, and also said that he has seen why we were put back together {as companions again}. I am so happy he has decided to stay. Like I said, the Lord can truly change people. The Atonement is real. Christ loves us. We need to use the Atonement. What a great gift that we have.

{the above comments from Elder Call are very personal and very tender. I hesitated putting them up on his blog, but since I have made it private and only family and immediate friends have access to his blog, I decided to do it. That way they will be a part of his "missionary blog journal" when I print this all out after his mission. If his blog was not private there is no way I would print any names, tender experiences, etc. Far to special and sacred!}

Dear family and friends,
So lets start off with my new companion. I didn't get with Elder Smith, or Elder Smith, or Elder Smith, or Elder Smith, or Elder Smith, but I got with Elder Smith!! I think there is 7 Elder Smiths here on the mission so I just had to clarifty which one it is! Ha, but yes this is the Elder Smith that I served with, and trained, like a month and a half ago! Crazy right?? 

Things are going great serving with him! We are finding opportunities and have set some pretty high goals for this upcoming transfer! I am excited to serve with him again. We are already seeing miracles.

The mission is a great place! We are working with a family who are recent converts but also less active. We are trying to help them overcome their smoking addiction. The other night I found a whole entire booklet full of lesson plans and stuff to help smokers overcome their addiction! It was awesome!

I am learning how important the Atonement is. I don't change people. I am to invite. The Atonement and the Holy Ghost are the powers that help convert people. I am just happy that I am in a position to see that.

God lives. Christ lives. The Atonement is real. And the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is true.

Love,

Elder Call