Good things come to those who wait. Patiently.

I'm talking about me (good old mom here) in the title of this post. We don't seem to be on the "we get an email every Monday from our missionary" plan. Between the major flooding and devastation in Calgary (hence no Monday email for 3 loooonnnnnggggg weeks), and there being a holiday in Canada just about every Monday (ok, well maybe one Monday a month), we don't really get the regular Monday missionary email. So, we wait patiently. Sometimes checking our email a few times........an hour (me). And then blessed day, it feels like Christmas has arrived when an email from good old Elder Call comes through! This week his email came on Wednesday. We sure love that boy of ours. And a last thought, it's kinda cool that a lot of his missionary experiences are surrounded with basketball! It's amazing how our Heavenly Father works.

Dear Family,

Thank you for your emails! And guess what friends/family? I bought stamps! So I've been trying to send out some letters! Sorry it has taken so long! But there should be some on the way! Ok, I guess I'll start off with answering some of my mom's weekly questions:

 

**Have you been able to attend the Calgary temple? If so how many times? 

Nope, not yet! We go about once every 4, 4 1/2 months. So I should be going sometime around the corner!

**It seems pretty rainy up there! Do you need a lighter weight rain jacket? If so, should we send you one or do you want to use your bank card and get one up there?

Nah. I love the rain. Plus, I've got an umbrella. {yay me for buying him an umbrella and stuffing it in his suitcase!!} It hasn't rained a whole lot since the flood, so I'll be ok! 

**Do you drive around every day? Or are there days when you walk / bike?

We are supposed to walk Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Which is good! Its good to get out and talk with people on the streets, which I've found to be very fun! Most people will talk with you, which is good. Some just aren't interested in religion... yet... :)  

**How many times have you been to Taco Bell in Canada? :)  {for those who don't know, it's his all time favorite!}

I've been twice I think. But they don't have chalupas, or beefy five layers, so its pretty rough haha! Fast food is kinda a rip-off up here {think expensive!}, so if you could send a beefy five layer up here that would be great! ;)

**So you can put a "thumb drive" into your car and play music from it? Is that what you would like church music put on to?  That would be a great birthday present, yes! Thank you!

**For the library to send photos...do you need a small box like device that you can put your actual camera sd card into it and the other end of it plugs into the computer itself (like a thumb drive cord)? Hard to explain!!!

Yes, I think! If we are both talking about the same thing then yes. {coming in your bday box!}

 

Ok, want to hear a story? Here it comes.

So the other day we went on exchanges with the Manderin Elders {these are the missionaries who were called to serve in Calgary Canada who speak / learning to speak Manderin}, who have someone they found for us to teach. So Elder Hancey (one of the Manderin Elders) and I went to find him. We knocked on his door, but no one answered. So we saw some people playing basketball in the park so we went over to talk with them. We talked a bit about the sports night we have going on, and one guy said that he would come!! It was great!

So, you are probably thinking, wow, Elder Call has shared this experience before. He must be losing his mind! But, it actually happened again! So pretty much the Lord works in mysterious ways. Have to expect the unexpected out here! Haha!

 

Ok, here is another story.

So Elder Lloyd and I were walking down the street when we heard a guy yelling. He was standing up on his balcony of his apartment and asked if we went to the church down there (pointing to our church) and we said yes. He asked if we could come up to his apartment and talk to him. So we went up to his apartment. He was a really nice guy. We asked if he had any questions and he had three for us. Here they are:

1) Where does your church come from? So we were able to sum up the restoration, which is lesson one.

2) What are the principles of your gospel? So we were able to sum up the gospel of Jesus Christ, which is lesson three.

3) He had some questions about the after-life, so we were able to talk about the Plan of Salvation, which is lesson two.

So pretty much we taught him everything. It was crazy. He said that he would come to church next week, and that he wanted to bring his son along as well. He also said that he wanted to have us over for a barbeque, which was quite the bonus to our visit! It was such a miracle. Elder Lloyd and I couldn't even believe what happened. It was so crazy-awesome! That was our miracle of the week.

 

Oh, and there is this less active in our ward who collects different sands. So I was wondering if you could send up some red sand in a jar with my next package so I could give it to him! {yes, we will for sure!!}

 

Oh, and I also was wondering if you could send me the one Rocky Balboa quote that we always quoted (Yes, dad, all these years of watching Rocky Christmas Eve has got to me! Haha!) Erin and Dad should know which quote I am talking about. Thank you! {yes! love that quote! It's on it's way!!} {and for those who want to know...the family "tradition" is to watch Rocky on Christmas Eve, super duper late....and we all end up falling fast asleep. Jeremy/dad has chosen this movie for years!}

 

We are starting to find more success here in our ward. Yes, missionary work is hard. Way hard! But worth it. Its all worth it when we start to see the change, the miracles, and all that good stuff. I am enjoying it out here. It is fun to be a missionary. Thanks for helping me to get to where I am today. I am so grateful for such an amazing family! Thanks for all that you do, have done, and will do! You guys are fantastic!! I love you so much!!

 

Love,

Elder Call

 

p.s. I have some more pictures but I don't have anything to load them with, so I'll get them to you next week probably! We went to a museum on pday, and there was a great sunset the other day, along with a mighty big rainbow! So I'll send them next week! {sd card reader / flash drive thingy that you need is coming for your birthday!!}

 

p.s.s. I love you all!! {we love you, too, Elder Call!!!}