Read it, it may bring tears to your eyes as it did mine (just a true testament of how much our baby brother has grown as a missionary). We are so proud of you Elder Calder. We are so grateful that you have served our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, these past two years. Life has gone on without you, but we are so grateful for your example and the person you have become. We love you!
Here is his letter:
August 12, 2013
Dear Family,
Well, I am humbled to be sitting here in the library and writing to you today. So much has happened in the last week. But honestly I guess none of it really matters a whole bunch, but what has mattered is the impact that it has had on my own spiritual growth and the growth of others.
We got into a car accident this last week. Not too bad. We are all good. No injuries, just the car in the shop. You know what that has taught me? To work harder. I don't have the option of just going all easy in a car anymore. I can't be picked up if it's late at night and we are more than 30 minutes from the apartment. All I have is the strength of the Spirit and me and my bike. But boy have I felt the strength of the spirit in that time.
We also had the baptism of Joe and Bertha. That was an awesome experience. They were so ready for baptism. So converted. But especially so in the process of conversion. Everything went perfect with the Baptism. Sure there were mistakes made. Some were not prepared, but none of that mattered. They got baptized. There was enough water in the font. People were there to fellowship, but most importantly-Joe and Bertha's determination to stick with this was strengthened. I had them share their testimonies after the baptism. They each wept as they told of their own journey to this great church and the importance that it has played in the last few short weeks. I was touched as Joe told of his own story and how the Lord had taken him and changed him. Made him better. Then as Bertha read the words from Ezekiel 36: 26-28 telling of how we will be cleansed by water and have our hearts changed. My own heart burst with the love that I felt for them.
Over and over again this last week I have had testimony after testimony given to me about the importance of the one. Like last night. We had a bunch of plans and then we got back from dinner at 7:30 pm. We had numbers to do, places to go, and tons to do, and only an hour and a half to do it. I considered just staying in the apartment and doing what we needed for that last hour and a half. But something told me no. I needed to be somewhere. I hurry and filled out some numbers paperwork for the week, got my stuff ready and we jetted out of there. We decided to stop at a poorer apartment complex. As we were deciding where to go I could picture it in my mind. When we got there we began talking to people. Just 10 or 15 minutes into it (it now being 8:15) we came into contact with a very rude black lady. She treated us like garbage. I wanted to give up, but I knew I needed to continue. As we did we knocked on the door of a short little mexican lady named Norma. She let us in and we talked about her desires to have her husband join her in her undying faith in the Lord, we comforted her, read scriptures, and prayed.
All of that for one person: Norma. But isn't that the way everything is? Everything I have ever done on my mission has been for the one. Or in this case, the "one's". There are people out there who need us. People who are searching for help in a cloudy and dark world. Just like in the Vision of the Tree of Life there are so many "Mists of Darkness" around us in the world. But we can be that light! The Savior told us that "Ye are the light of the World". Us. Little Schuyler Calder from Layton, Utah, could come to Texas and change a few peoples lives. That's the kind of things the Lord is looking for. Those who are willing to step up and serve. It's not about how good or bad your service is, it just matters that you are there. The Savior can make up for the rest. His Grace really is so sufficient.
Can you imagine, the feelings that the Lord has for us? I don't think I comprehend fully the Love that he has, nor to the degree to which he knows me. So personally. I don't know how to describe it. I don't know how to give that kind of love to others.
The scriptures describe Christ Like love as Charity. In 1 Corinthians 13 it tells us that that love is the greatest thing. Literally, the greatest thing.
Yesterday in a class taught by Brother Broyles he mentioned how every good thing comes from God. Literally. When we love our husbands, or our wives, or our friends or family, we are just opening up just a bit of the capsule of love that Christ has, that he has placed inside of us. I have never found that so well described as in the stories of countless many missionaries, prophets, apostles, disciples-all going forth and suffering, bleeding, dying, being beaten, being harassed, all for His names sake. How do they do that? How have I served my mission? How can any of us stay alive and afloat in such a tiring and heart broken world. The truth is we simply cannot. Anytime we get a surge of energy or love, or hope, or faith, anything good-that is us tapping into that endless supply that Christ has. That spirit which he placed within us.
I don't know how to describe it any better than to say it's almost a parasitic relationship that we have with Christ. Truly, if we think about it nothing we ever do is anything in comparison to what he can do. It's like we sit there and seep so much energy and life off of him, but does he really get anything for himself? No. He does it because he loves us.
It's my wish to love him just even half as much as he loves me. For then I too could "walk through the valley of Death" and not fear. For then I too could be beaten to the brink of death, be placed in filth, in prison, in hardship, and still "sing praises to the Most High God". That's what I want. I don't want money or cars or beauty. I just want to be loved by Christ, and love him too. For after all is said and done, what else matters?
I am so thankful for my Savior. The one who I don't think I will ever know fully, the one who I don't think I will ever understand, but also the one who I know is concerned, even unto death, worried, some might say, to death, over me.
The church is true. Don't ever leave it. Sure question things, face your doubts, but don't ever leave it.
Just barely I got off of the phone with a lady who has decided to do that because of some history of the church that she could not swallow.
I am not a member of this church because of Joseph Smith, or Brigham Young, or Bruce Mckonkie, or anyone else. I am a member of this church because of Christ, and because I know how much he wants me to be a part of this.
This is no fake, this is no lie. This is real. This is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. These are his Teachings, and eternity hangs in the balance. Happiness hangs in the balance. My effort may have been small, my 2 years short, but I am so thankful for them, for if it has changed anyone, certainly it has been me.
Love ya fam, keep up your prayers for the people here, always remember who you are and what that means, and I promise, that fact alone will "keep your chin up". Have a great week-
Elder Calder
