Congratulations to all of my friends back home who have got their mission calls and are working on finishing their mission papers! That is so exciting! You guys have no idea what kind of an adventure you are in for. The mission will be the most beneficial thing to you, if you do it right. So many prophets and apostles talk about how their lives would have been so significantly different it they hadn't served. President Hinckley even said that he attributes anything good that has happened in his life back to his decision to serve a mission. Missionary work is great.
Its amazing to see how the gospel works. Its so simple. We have faith in God and the Savior. We learn of them and increase our faith. We desire to repent and make covenants with our Heavenly Father. He blesses us and gives us the Holy Ghost. We keep doing these things and eventually we are prepared to return to live with Heavenly Father. How amazing it has been to me that Heavenly Father has put me in a place to take part in that process.
We were able to teach Marla this week. We taught her the Plan of Salvation. And oh boy, it was one rough lesson. This was probably the roughest lesson I've taught since the MTC. But it was comforting as she talked about how she felt so peaceful and as if her burdens were lifted from her. I am so thankful that the Spirit was there. It reminds me of Elder Hollands quote, "Except in the case of His only perfect Begotten Son, imperfect people are all God has ever had to work with. That must be terribly frustrating to Him, but He deals with it." Thank goodness Heavenly Father is patient with His missionaries.
We were also able to teach Kalan about the Plan of Salvation. We also are starting to teach him about the commandments. It has been fun teaching him. He is pretty excited about everything and is participating quite well in the lessons. I really enjoy teaching him! Its been fun getting creative and finding ways to get him involved and interested. Have I told you guys that he's even trying to memorize the Articles of Faith?? He's a pretty sweet kid.
So we got permission from our President to have a 19 year old in our ward come along with us in the mornings. We work out and have comp studies together, and it has been pretty sweet! His name is Austin and he's heading to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on March 26. So its been pretty fun being able to train him a bit!
Oh, so I was on exchanges this week with Elder Engstrom, and we didn't have a whole lot to do so we went survey tracting! We pretty much just went tracting and then had people fill out a survery. Make sense, right? Well it actually went pretty well! Actually, I'll change that to it went pretty well... after we prayed! We had knocked five or six doors and no one had answered, so Elder Engstrom suggested we say a prayer. So we did, and our prayers we answered! We got someones information and a return appointment with another, so it was sweet! Moral of the story: pray. Heavenly Father is there for us! We just need to rely on Him.
The Church is true!
Love,
Elder Call
And the letter he sent to me (mom):
Alright before I go into anything I would just like to ask that you pray for my companion Elder Pauli. Ever since he has come on a mission he has lost a family member every month. Today he just learned that he lost his aunt, whom he lived with from 9 til about 15 or 16. I don't know how well he is taking it. So keep him in your prayers. Thank you!
This week was pretty good. Kalan didn't come to church or to the pinewood derby which was a bummer, but Marla did come so that was good. We met with Kalan twice this week and we met with Marla once, so that was great!
Tell all those with mission calls congratulations!! Oh man, that is so exciting!! Oh they have no idea what they are in for! They will all be great missionaries though. Congratulations! And congrats to SCHS basketball! Thats pretty sweet that they took region. Too bad they didn't go further, but still pretty awesome of them!!
Ok questions,
How did the Pinewood Derby go?
Haha, our car wasn't that great but it was fun! We did take first in one of our heats so we one a sun visor thing for our car! Right on!!
Is Kallin still preparing for baptism? How is his mom doing?
Kalan is doing well but his mom still needs a little bit of help. Just more support and friends from the ward I think.
How is Marla doing? Have you been able to teach her more this week?
Marla is doing great! We got to teach her this week which was great. Plan of Salvation! It was good!
I heard there was a cooolllld wind up in Canada this week, were you freezing???
Ha, yea its pretty cold. But I think I am getting used to it! It was -17 C out this morning and I wasn't that cold :)
Best part of your week?
Ah, I don't know if I could land it on one thing. But I think just learning and understanding more has been a great part of this week.
Anything you need that we can help you with, pray for, etc??
The Church is true! Glad to hear that you are doing well back home. Hope you have a great week. Thanks for the love and support and for being such a great mom. I love you so much!!
Love,
Elder Call
After reading his letter I had the feeling to write him back my thoughts which were:
Dear Spence,
That is so sad to hear about Elder Paulis family. The first thing that came to my mind is to keep teaching the Plan of Salvation to all those you can, it will comfort his heart at this time and strengthen his testimony of it. Maybe you can share your feelings of when Papa passed away, or even KJ. Sometimes it helps when you know you are not the only one who has had this trial.
He will be in our prayers as will the others you named. You will be in our prayers as well,as you do all you can to sustain and uplift and help him. I know you are soooooo good to him, but feel free to buy him a hamburger and milkshake, cook him breakfast as a surprise one morning (remember on the movie The Best 2 Years? haha!!) etc. Sometimes it's the little things like that that keep you going. You're the best companion for him that's for sure!!
Love you so much! xoxooxxo love mom
About 20 minutes later he replied:
Thanks so much for your advice mom! I will definitely help him out as much as possible and try to set up Plan of Salvation lessons. Great ideas!! I love you so much mom! Have a great week, and a good time at the Temple.
Sure love that missionary of ours and all of the many opportunities he has to teach and serve others. He is a great example to all of us! Love you Elder Call!!
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