Happy Day!

Elder Calder sent a few pics this week. Check 'em out:

Welcome to Rio, RIO!

Well.. Elder Calder is in his very first SpAniSh speaking area. Yahoo for him! :)
He is loving it and is having a great time with his new companion.
Thought I would share his latest letter with you all:

Hey Family!!

Well, I am living literally a mile and a half from Mexico!! It's pretty sweet. So I am serving in the Del Rio A area. We cover a Spanish Branch and an English Branch. We share them with some sisters (it is car share but we let them have the car 6 out of 7 days so I get to ride bikes) It feels great to be back on the bike! I felt like I was out of shape. No, but really, it feels fantastic.

We have some good things going on right now. We are working on getting different people with some baptismal dates since we do not have anyone currently. But we are working hard. More news on all of that in the upcoming future, especially as I become more enveloped in my new branches. I have never been over a branch before! It's sweet.

So I am speaking much more Spanish than I was. Like for real, super more. We generally speak about 2 to 3 hours a day at least in Spanish, so I am loving it. I am no where near where I need to be in order to carry on a complete and full conversation in Spanish (especially when it comes to things that are not Gospel related) but I am learning. I am especially learning tons of new words, and I hope they stick because I want to soak up as much of the Language as I can.

Where we are living is actually super dope! We are living in a house practically! For real! The house we stay in is divided up into four sections (all divided by walls). There is ours (in the back), a side part, and then in the main house some people staying in the top floor and some in the bottom. There is so much room for us to run around and play and what not! All of our walls are actually cement (they look like dry wall though) so we kick a kick ball up against it tons! Literally we have a giant living room, we each have our own bath rooms, a big kitchen and then a big master size bed room! We even have our own mini courtyard thing! Oh, and there is a pool (not filled) in the back yard! Good thing I am a missionary, other wise that's all I'd do. It's sick. So we have tons of fun. Whenever we get distracted or anything we just throw a tennis ball against the wall or play volley ball against it, really whatever.

So, my new companion is Elder Zachary Johnson! He is sick. We get along great. It's kind of funny to have another "Elder Johnson" companion, but it's way fun. He is actually from Gilbert, Arizona and is friends with Elder Schwarz back home (cause that's where he is from too). So quite a small world! It's crazy. He was actually companions with Elder Bloomfield in the MTC, so we are all sorts of connected. I love him to death. He is actually about 4 months older than me so I kind of treat him like the Senior companion which is great. But ya, we have tons of fun. He actually kind of reminds me of Evan Wright (just a tid bit) so we were instant best friends. We laugh a lot and have a lot of fun.

So my new address is:
207 Wallen St,
Del Rio, Texas 78840

Well, I am gonna have to get going but I love y'all and just remember two things: Keep your chin up, and this church is true. Wish me luck with Spanish!

Elder Calder

PS Notice his new address!
Good luck Elder Calder!

Yo Me Voy a La Frontera!

Elder Calder is going to the border! This will be his very first Spanish-speaking area and we couldn't be more excited for him. He is really excited and said this in his letter this week:

Well, the big news is that in fact I will be getting transferred! I am super stoked (although super sad to have to leave) but I will going to the border!!! That's right, I finally will get to "blossom" in a Spanish area. I am going to try super super hard to learn Spanish since I never really know how long I might have. Anyways I am stoked. It'll be sweet to be by the border too because I am betting I will get to meet some interesting people.

Elder Calder has also been progressing with several investigators and so far has three baptism dates set up for the next two months. You are doing a wonderful job Elder. We love you!!

P.S. Pictures to come soon :)
P.P.S. Did you know that Elder Calder has only SEVEN months left!?! Yay!

A Christmas Message..

It is hard to believe that this will be our last Christmas without Elder Calder home. This last year has come and gone in a blink of an eye. We are so proud of all that our missionary has accomplished. Here is a short Christmas message from Elder Calder (from this week's letter):

December 17,2012

I am happy to be a missionary. I am so frightened and saddened by all of the wickedness and hardship that surrounds each and every one of us, but I find comfort in my Savior, Jesus Christ. Because of Him, I do not have to worry, things don't have to look so bleak. Because of him there is HOPE! I hope we all take a little time to remember that. Not just at this time, but every day. As I said prior, let us all work a little harder, to be a little better. For truly this life is a time to prepare to meet God, and "the night cometh wherein no man can labor".

I know that this is God's church. I know that there is Hope. I know that the greatest part of this time of the Savior is not simply celebrating His Birth, but also His life, His Death, His Resurrection, But most of all His Atonement.

I love you guys, Keep your chins up this Christmas season and may we all lift those with feeble knees and trembling hearts.

 

Elder Calder

 

We hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and remember Him.

Giving Thanks!

We hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! This Thanksgiving was the last we will have to spend without Elder Calder... yep, he'll be joining us next year! Woohoo!
This is a wonderful time of year where we can give thanks to the many blessings that we have.
Schuyler did just that in his last letter:

The last week was good. I especially like Yesterday at church as everyone reflected on being thankful for that which we have. I am not very good at this. But I know it is an eternal principle. Take for instance the many times we are tested by God, if we only look for that which is good, if we keep our chins up, and if we notice all of the great blessings around us-we will begin to find that "Pearl of Great Price". I know that Christ lives. I am thankful for his atonement. I am thankful for a good family that supports me and whom I love. I am thankful that my family is just a bunch of my best friends. I am thankful for parents that knew enough to tell me "no" when I needed it. I am thankful for fun parents who I can play with. I am thankful for good friends that I have so much fun with. I am thankful for letters from friends right when I need them. I am thankful for thrift stores that have cheap clothes for cheap missionaries. I am thankful for new beginnings that allow us to refocus. I am thankful for cool animals that give me joy to play with. I am thankful for sweet computers that let me talk to people from far away. I am thankful for music that makes me smile. I am thankful for hands so I can clap when something is awesome. I am thankful for teeth so I can bite into a frozen grape. I am thankful for pain so that I can remember how nice it is to not have it. I am thankful for evil so that I can learn to be good. I am thankful for rain because it brings growth. I am thankful for hardship because it allows me to grow. I am thankful for stress so that I can stretch. I am thankful for being tired because that means I have worked hard. I am thankful for stinky feet because that means I have walked many miles. I am thankful for creeky bikes because that means that it's been used. I am thankful for my mission because it has taught me my real worth.

Happy Holidays! Hope yours is wonderful.

Woot woot for ONE year!!

Elder Schuyler Calder hit a milestone on September 7th....He has been serving the wonderful people of Texas for one year!!  He has totally loved being a missionary and sharing the message of the Gospel.  Schuyler has grown so much and it has been wonderful to receive his weekly letters and see the transformation that he is having.  We are so very proud of him and the rock solid foundation that he continues to build upon of the Gospel.  He loves the people and especially a good old Texan barbeque!!  His mission experience has had its hardships and challenges as well as many miracles and Schuyler continues to share his love of life and love for our Savior and His restored Gospel.  We miss Schuy like crazy but are very grateful for his willingness and desire to be obedient and serve diligently in the mission field.  We are sure PROUD OF OUR ELDER!!!
Love,
His Proud Mama Bear (LU)

P.S. Here are a few pictures of what our Elder is up to!!

One Year Down ... One more to GO!!

Elder Calder hit his 1 year mark on his mission this past week (Sept. 7th)!! We cannot believe how fast this last year has gone and am sure the next will go even faster. Congratulations Elder!!!
Schuyler also got a new companion and is still in the Eden area (outside of San Antonio). They have endured excruciating heats and some crazy people. Here are some pictures of his last companion and his newby:

 Saying goodbye to Elder Schwarz

Elder Calder & Elder Knudson

 

Keep up the great work BUD!! We love you!