It's Been a Bright, Bright, Sunshiny Day

Holla Familia!!!

Tomorrow is Transfers and that is why my email is late! Guess what!!! I'm being Transferred! How weird is that!! I have only been here in Back Creek for 6 weeks and I'm leaving! This will be Sister Isobe's 4th Transfer in Back Creek. She doesn't mind she could stay here for the rest of her mission. I wouldn't mind staying in Back Creek either, it is a beautiful place. So awesome. But the place I am headed to is not to far away, in fact it is still in the zone. I am headed to Bedford Virginia. Which is just about an hour east of where I am now, I think. ha ha. 

So this past week has been one full of fun! On Monday we had Empty Nesters! which I got to attend twice!! for being here only one transfer that is pretty good. It was super fun, Bluegrass, and I actually did some flat footing. ha ha yeah... I love Empty Nesters it is so fun, just a time to get together with friends and family, spiritual thought, eating, playing music, and dancing.Can't get any better than that. 

On Tuesday we went and saw a less active sister named Lynn. We helped her paint her patio furniture and her picnic table. Well, we spray painted her patio furniture! It was awesome!! Spray painting is hard, I have a whole new respect for Graffiti artists. I wasn't to bad at it, maybe I should be a Graffiti artist someday... Well... maybe not. Lynn is a hoot! She is so funny, she can just talk and talk and talk! Maybe my life just isn't that exciting, because I don't' think I could just talk without someone talking back, but hey we didn't mind. Besides we were eating papa john's pizza with her. It was good. 

We had Specialized Training and Exchanges this week. Which I think made this week super fun. It's not everyday that we get to see President Pitt and Sister Pitt. So it was a real treat. It is the last time I will see them till I get off my mission. They will be leaving June 30 and that is when the new mission President kicks in. It's strange to be excited and nervous at the same time. That anticipation of the unknown, but I know he is going to be good. Do you know what is weird though... the Mission President's wife is a few years older than Jon. My oldest brother 0.o werd. 

Yeah, It was interesting. We practiced teaching our investigators how to pray, and also how to prepare our investigators for anti. We also learned about planning. So many things learned, and it went by so quickly. 

I'm going to miss President and Sister Pitt. They are two of the most wonderful people I have ever met, and they have helped me out with a lot of things. I'm sad that they will be leaving, but I am happy for new beginnings, I love meeting new people, It is not a goodbye forever but a momentary departure until I can see them again. They have touched the lives of all us missionaries. Do you know what is strange that I didn't know? They can't come to the mission for three years, and they can't talk to or send messages to any of the missionaries for three years (unless they get off their mission). I didn't know that! I guess it makes sense so that there aren't any problems with missionaries seeking advice from President Pitt or anything. It's just hard to think that we have to wait till our missions are over to ever hear from him. 

For Exchanges, I went with Sister Canova to Vinton. I always love going on exchanges. Seeing new places, how other missionaries work and everything. Sister Canova is an awesome missionary! She and Sister Richards are both staying in Vinton this transfer so they will be my STL's again! This will be Sister Canova's last transfer before she goes home. Sister Canova is bomb at planning! I want to be like her when I grow up! ha ha. Anywho, it was neat to be with her, we had a few miracles and such happen. For example: After dinner we were planning on going to an investigators house with a member, but because it was sunny the member wasn't able to come out with us (because her kids had sports), So we were talking about how we wouldn't be able to get our member present, and then we get a text from the lady we were going to go and see and she asked if we could change the appointment to Saturday and we did. So we were getting ready to plan on what we were going to do because our plans had fallen through. Then the phone buzzed and we had received a voice message. It was from their Investigator Dorthy, that we had just seen earlier that day (the lesson was really good and she told us how excited she was for baptism), in the message she asked if it was too late to back out and not get baptized. It was quite a shock! We had no idea what had happened. But we know that everything fell through that evening because Dorthy needed to talk to us. It was a neat experience. Dorthy wasn't baptized this weekend, but hopefully it will work out in the near future when she is more prepared. 

When things need to happen, God prepares a way. 

Speaking of making things possible. we helped a less active member cut down his Ash tree a few days ago and have been helping him stack and clean it up! (We didn't cut it down, he did with a chain saw, it was awesome. TIMBER!!!) It was so hot. It was definitely a Bright Sunshiny Day to be working outside. But it was worth it, because they came to church!! YAY! I also got to practice my Javelin throw too! 

Well I am excited for Transfers tomorrow! I'm excited to go to Bedford and serve with Sister Nielsen again! She was my MTC companion! she is one awesome crazy sister. So hopefully all will go well with transfers and such! 

Congrats Julie on the new Baby!! He looks like a cutie!! :D 

I Love you all, and I hope you are having a great week as well as an awesome spring/summer! Also, sorry for my random train of thought!! Ha ha!

Loves, 

Sister Karen Call

"Let us be awake and not be weary of well-doing, for we “are laying the foundation of a great work,” even preparing for the return of the Savior. Brethren, when we add the light of our example as a witness to the beauty and power of restored truth, we will not sleep through the Restoration."
~Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Mountain Flowers

Holla Familia!!!

This week has been pretty great! I just want to say Thanks to my wonderful family for all of the Birthday wishes and such!!! They made me laugh, and they were all wonderful.

Anywho, this week in the work was pretty great. We saw several Less-active members. One that stuck out the most was a lady named Wendy. She looks like a cross between Emma Stone and Drew Barrymore.. I think that is their names... haha. Anywho, We have been trying to get a hold of her for several weeks and we finally saw her this week! She is awesome! She is sooo funny. Anywho, we have been wanting to do service for her helping her clean up her mountain, but we had never really seen how much of a mess it was... So let me restate that: Her Mountain! we went to her backyard and looked at what she meant by cleaning up her mountain. lets just say I could see about 3 miles down the mountain and it was covered in garbage. Everything you can imagine was down there, from dolls, coke bottles, tv's, bikes, to probably dead people. It is all covered. So we hope to be able to set up a service activity with the Youth and the members in the ward to come and help her clean up. The thing that popped into my mind while we were talking to her was the Youth Mormon Message "Reclaimed" I hope we will be able to help her, because that is one of the big thing that her and her non-member husband worry about right now. It would also give us a lot of brownie points with them :)   Anywho she also gave us this stuff that is supposed to be "The Cure to Cancer" pretty much. Asea I think it was called... I think it is only made out of Distilled Water and sodium chloride or something like that... She claims it has magical healing properties... well... maybe... I can't exactly find that out right now. but it is pretty good at taking the itch out of mosquito bites... for a while..

Another neat experience we had this week! we had a referral from a member to go and try a lady who had just moved in down the street. When we went and met her she told us that she had been raised going to the Mormon church but had never joined, and that she had a lot of questions and would like us to come and talk to her more! Her name is Erin! She is such a neat lady. She even came to church this last Sunday! We helped her clean her house a little while we were there because things were all over the place from just moving in. So that was a good opportunity we had to serve. She is so cool. that's pretty much all I can say. 

We also had an awesome lesson with a part-member family. We had a Young Woman, Ariana, in the ward come with us and we taught the Plan of Salvation. Ariana is such an awesome example, and she is super mature for her age. She is 14 but everyone thinks she is 18 or in college. She is such a sweet heart as well and she can pretty much instantly make friends with anyone she wants too. She also has a stellar solid testimony! Anywho, The lesson was super fun! We used there computer and the paint app thingy, and we drew out the plan of salvation. I think that was the most they have ever paid attention so closely, it was awesome!

We also saw Mary this week, she says she is ready for Baptism when we are! haha! YEAH!!! We told her that she needs to keep the word of wisdom and come to church and then she can! She asked how long she had to quit drinking coffee for, and I told her for the rest of your life, and she was said "Alright, I can do that. I haven't had one today, so far so good." YEAH!!! haha. she is such a funny lady.

So it was my Birthday this week, and I got to "celebrate" my birthday with one of the coolest members ever! Quena Alarcon! She bought a cake and put candles on it and she and Sister Isobe sang Happy Birthday. It was pretty awesome haha. I felt so loved. I am so grateful I have family and friends to make my day bright and to watch out for me.

But yeah it's been a good week. Lots of small miracles, lots of funny moments. and I'm so grateful to be a missionary at this time in this place.

I hope you are having a great week! Stay Awesome!

Loves,

Sister Call

"Day after day, on your path toward your eternal destiny, increase your faith. Proclaim your faith! Let your faith show!"

~Russell M. Nelson

Pic 1: Birthday cake!

Pic 2: Survival Kit!!

Pic 3: $6000 - oh my...

Bolts and Prayers

Holla Familia!!

This week has been fun!! Lots of fun things happened back home, lots of craziness! haha! but it was awesome no doubt!

So Last week Sister Isobe and I spent some quality time with the Cave Spring Sister: Larkin and Michie. We went to the mall, we went shopping, we went to Chick-fil-a. Then we went to their apartment and painted the tiles on their ceiling. Which sounds strange but it was super fun! they are those tiles that are in the ceiling of schools and such. That are all pebble looking. well we painted the other side that is nice and smooth, so when they move out they will just flip them back over and no one will ever know. Right? haha. But yeah that is what we did for Memorial day. Do you know what was sad? The schools make-up day for all of the snow days that they had was on Memorial Day! so half of the students didn't even show up, because their parents had already planned trips and such. Then at the end of the day they said that i they didn't come it was alright and that they were going to excuse all of the kids! That would be awful! You go to school and find out that you went for no reason at all!

Anywho, We were helping a member this week with her Garden. Oh Dad, I thought our Garden was big... Now it seems so small. let me just say it's about 100x100ft. It is probably bigger than that, but anywho it was huge. So I used some kind of weird tool that broke up the soil and pretty much got rid of the small weeds that were growing everywhere. Sister Isobe used the Hoe. Anywho, as I was going along I was just going hard core at it up and down the rows of tomato plans, peppers, etc. when all of a sudden the end popped off! I looked at it and I realized the two bolts that were holding it together were gone! They had wiggled themselves off as I was going through things. I saw a bolt in the dirt earlier and I had wondered where it came from, but didn't bother to pick it up. Now I knew exactly what it was. The other bolt was right there in the dirt where the end had fallen off, so that one was a little easier to find. I thought of this as how we go about in life. We are going around doing so much good, and we are doing it pretty splendidly, but as we were going along we started to neglect some of the important things that we should be doing like reading our scriptures, going to church, doing are callings, praying. and our bolts started to come loose that was holding us together. We don't realize it at first because it seems that we are doing the same work as we were doing before. But soon one of the Bolts falls off. We don't realize it because we still have the other bolt. But we are no longer receiving the blessings that we had with the other bolt. We continue on for a while but the other bolt can't do all of the work on it's own and it quickly starts to wiggle off until it too falls off. The tool is now not usable. Well you could, but it wouldn't be as effective... and rather pointless, and you could start to break the tool in fact and may no be able to fix it as quickly or as easily. Life starts to seem to fall apart, or feels harder than it should be. This is where we need to go back and fix. Put the Bolts back in and tighten them again. Repentance. But there is one thing that we have to be cautious of. Repentance, and True Repentance. When I screwed the bolts back on by hand after a few more minutes I noticed that the Bolts were starting to come loose again and they were about to fall off again. It isn't about just putting the Bolts back on. It's about putting them back on and Tightening them so that they don't all off easily again. We need to be continually aware of what we are doing and making sure that we are fixing things, always trying to improve on how we do things.

Of course using a Hoe would have been easier because it's not held together by bolts, but hey, whatever.

Other cool things that happened: We went to Sister Debusks and she showed us her encyclopedia Library. She has them all from like the past 100 years all of the editions. She loves her encyclopedias. They are pretty cool! I didn't realize how cool encyclopedias were! But yeah she also told me that she had ancestors that were Call's. and she started telling me all of these things, I'm not really sure if it is the same Call's and I can't really remember the stories because they were so foreign to me haha.

We also had Dinner with Bishop McGraw and his wife, and they invited our investigator Mary to come as well! It was AWESOME! The Food was great, the conversation was great, just everything went so well. After that we went and tried a less active named Cliff. When we got to his house we heard some banjo music playing, and we were super impressed and we liked it, when we knocked on the door the music stopped, He opened the door and was holding a banjo!!! He was playing some awesome Banjo tunes! It was insane! The people out here are so Musically Talented! But yeah, he let us play his Banjo, and he went and grabbed his fiddle too! Sweet Bluegrass, sweet sweet bluegrass.

The last thing that was awesome this week was Zone Meeting. It was all about overcoming and reacting to hard times and we had examples from the scriptures. Also, about how in Preach My Gospel it says 'YOU'. Each of us are called to what we are doing for a reason. Because You are the only one who can effect the people in hat area. You. Your personality. Your interests. You. It was all about us being who we are instead of being a robot missionary. It was awesome. But the part that I liked the most was about Prayer. Prayer has always been something that I don't completely understand, but I know how much power comes from it. What we went over was Praying Specifically. When we ask for things that are specific then we will receive specific blessings. Praying for things such as to meet a family of five that are working outside. Or a man in his late 30's When we pray for things specifically and what we are going to do like give them a family proclamation and such. It goes for everything we pray for. When we are specific and looking for what we have prayed for then God will answer us. If we are Vague and don't really know what we are asking for, then how are we supposed to know the answer God gives us?

I have prayed to know that the Book of Mormon is true. I wasn't visited by angels, I didn't hear a voice shout out to me and tell me that it was true, but every time I read it, or think about it I Feel good. I feel like it is true. The thought of Wickedness never was Happiness always pops into mind. I have prayed wondering why things were so hard and why it couldn't be easier, and I just felt at peace after that and the next day I read a talk called His Grace is Sufficient...

"In the same way, because Jesus has paid justice, He can now turn to us and say, “Follow me” (Matthew 4:19), “Keep my commandments” (John 14:15). If we see His requirements as being way too much to ask (“Gosh! None of the other Christians have to pay tithing! None of the other Christians have to go on missions, serve in callings, and do temple work!”), maybe it is because we do not yet see through Christ’s eyes. We have not yet comprehended what He is trying to make of us."

So many things can run through the mind so easily, when we already know the answer, but we all ask questions at times. But it is how we react to those situations. I am still working on Christlike attributes. I am definitely not a perfect person, but I am doing the best I can.

I love you all, I love the Gospel, I love this beautiful earth that I can see. I love pictures. I love friends. I love memories. I love so many things. I love each and every one of You, and yes I mean it.

Be good, work hard, be diligent. and God will bless you.

Loves,

Sister Karen Call

Pic 1&2: SO MANY TREES!! SO GREEN!

Pic 3: Chinchilla!!

Pic 4: mmm.. Fresh Chicken

 

Allergies + Cold = Let's go Gardening!!

Holla Familia!

This week has been Full of Service! We went to a new investigators house and helped her weed her yard and put mulch down, then she fed us lunch! It was good. She made a strawberry, Rhubarb pie. It was pretty good, super sweet... a little too sweet for me, but it was still good. Gretchen and her husband are an interesting couple. Unfortunately they don't have any kids, they don't really have any siblings. They pretty much are on their own. Which is super sad, but they don't seem to mind chilling by themselves. 

We also Gardened at the Beardsley's. It was pretty interesting, the hill on the side of their house was covered in wild strawberries, and weeds. I have never seen wild strawberries before! they were just tiny.. and they didn't taste very good, but they were still pretty cool! So we helped them plant some Juniper ground cover bushes/things. Hoping that it would kill all of the weeds and just make the hill easy to work with and not have to worry about it. We also went to their house later in the week for a family cookout they had. They rubbed or soaked their meat in Papaya! It made the meat super tender and just would tear apart so easily! it was pretty cool and super good! Really good Mexican cooking. 

We also helped a lady in the ward move houses. She lived in the attic of her Sisters... barn? anywho it was a one room house and it was super crammed. She moved into this really nice big house! A lot of her stuff was in storage containers next to the barn. She had a lot of antique furniture! We were all worried about breaking it, and she was like just push it down the stairs it's sturdy wood! haha! It was fun helping her out. Her hope is that someday the Sister Missionaries will move into her house so she isn't alone. 

We also helped an Elderly couple named the Avery's put cages around their peach trees because the deer were eating them. It was pretty funny. We packed up all of the cages on the trailer and then we pulled out and went up the hill, stopped and unloaded them. It was super funny. We also helped him cut wood for his Son to make a grape vine holder, He used a chainsaw and we picked up and moved the logs. After helping them out with everything they made fresh lemonade - squeezed lemons in water with no sugar. mmmm... while we were drinking our lemonade I noticed a bow on the wall. I was like "oh! Who goes Bow hunting!" and the Brother Avery said he did! So he went and got his arrows and we went and shot it into the hill on the side of the house! SO COOL! haha

We had a dinner appointment with an investigator at a members house this week! I have never done it before, but it was super great! We had dinner with the Olsen's (He is the Chiropractor) and our investigator was Randall. It was pretty funny. When we first got there Brother and Sister Olsen were both wearing a shirt that said "iCrack" (because he is a chiropractor), but if you didn't know that.... It's a really strange shirt to be wearing haha! Randall was super confused and asked pretty hesitantly what it meant. He was still confused even after they told him that they were Chiropractors. It was pretty funny. Brother and Sister are so funny. Their kids are pretty funny too. They were super awesome at helping us teach Randall and being an example of how the Gospel brings happiness to a family. They are such a cute family. 

We also had a pretty awesome dinner with the Jones family. Brother Jones is a Doctor and so we pretty much talked about how Sister Isobe and I were dying. Sister Isobe got like 30 mosquito bites in a few days! and I was super congested and runny nose and I just looked miserable. So he started telling us what we should be doing. They went all out for us. Making sure we were staying alive, and not dying. Sister Jones' Brother is an Allergist and he had us come in to check us out. His name is Brother McBride. He served a mission with Mitt Romney and helped him on his Presidential campaign too! He talked about all of the awesome things that Mitt Romney did/does. and talked about a few other things. But now I can say I know someone who is friends with Mitt Romney! yeah! Then he talked about Allergy stuff, and yeah... we will see what happens. 

Oh and a cute less active family that we saw this week was Jimmy and Rose Neighbors. They are so funny. Well Jimmy is, Rose didn't talk very much. She was super tired from working all day. Jimmy is so funny. He kept saying he was going to try and find something to tease me about, but the only thing he could come up with while we were there was how my foot kept twitching. He was a super cute old guy. When we went to go leave it was about 9:00 and he was like you both get in the car and I'll back you out. How nice :) 

And lastly District Meeting. Very first one we have had. It was strange. The way things are split up in this zone is super confusing. Our District Leader is the YSA missionaries, then we have the Vinton Sisters, and the Elders in Botetourt, and the Sisters from Cave Spring. It's so Random! We learned about having Unity in our teaching. Us alone, we will never be able to help an investigator get to where they need to go. We need to have our companions help and also the companionship of the Holy Ghost. They used as an example a piece of string representing us as individuals, and as we pulled on the string trying to get our "investigator" to move. The string broke. But when we braided together those three strings it made a decently strong rope. (the Elders who were doing the example still broke theirs, we took it as representing Really stubborn investigators haha). The part that was a little strange was the role play. It wasn't bad, but it gave a good example about trying to force the spirit or teaching. It just doesn't work. When you are forced to say or do something it makes it rather hard to do it. There is no spirit when you try and force inspiration or the spirit into things. It was interesting and that is pretty much all I can say about it.

You can't force someone to have a testimony. You can't force someone to become converted to the Gospel. It just doesn't work that way. If it did then where would our agency be? Also when you squeeze people they resist. At least I know I would Resist. It makes you push back. There has to be a desire to learn. A desire to change. A desire to let things go. Of course that is easier said than done. But what can you do about it. 

Well my brain is fried, my lungs are raw, I am tired. But I love it here! YEAH BUDDY! If it doesn't kill me it will only make me stronger!! right? right? haha Well I love you all. Keep up the awesomeness. 

Congrats this weekend Timmy and Chelsie I hope the Wedding goes awesome! 

Loves,

Sister Karen Call

"The unselfish give of themselves. These may be small gifts of charity that have a grand impact for good: a smile, a handshake, a hug, time spent in listening, a soft word of encouragement, or a gesture of caring. All these acts of kindness can change hearts and lives. When we take advantage of the unlimited opportunities to love and serve our fellowmen, including our spouse and family, our capacity to love God and to serve others will greatly increase."
—Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Princess Phone

Holla Familia, 

This week has been full of adventures. Unfortunately I need to take more pictures!! haha.

Anywho! This Last Monday I attended for the first time what is called: Empty Nesters. All the old people in the ward come to this Old Schoolhouse and several other people from different churches come as well. I have been told so much about it! I didn't know what to expect, but I knew it was going to be awesome. We arrived about 30 minutes late, but the Spiritual thought at the beginning was still going on. Sister Isobe said that the spiritual thoughts usually only last 15 or so minutes. So this was a Really long spiritual thought, and several of the old people had fallen asleep haha. I wish I could recall what the man was talking about... I think it was about family history... and something that someone in his family had done... but he was talking so quietly and mumbling and we came in during the middle/end. That I really didn't have a clue what he was talking about. He talked for a good 50 minutes though. Anywho, they had a potluck after the spiritual thought. The food was super good. Southern Hospitality food. haha. But the part that everyone enjoys about Empty Nesters is the very end. Where they have people come up and play their music. Bluegrass!!! Best Music EVER! There are some members that were there, Gary and Jaquie Ferguson, They sang with some pretty popular people, like Jonny Cash, and other Bluegrass singers and such. They said they couldn't sing... Lies. haha. So when I say the music is the best part, I'm serious! These people are crazy good: Banjo, Basses, Guitar, Some other electric instrument, Singing! They got Sister Isobe to get up and play her Violin. It was super neat. They only hold it once a month, so it is a real treat for missionaries. 

So another cool thing that we did. We have a Chiropractor in the ward: Dr. Olsen, so we go every week to get 'realigned' It is so nice, but it hurts, I think I have gotten more back problems doing it than if I had just let it alone.... anywho, they have this thing called Allergenics laser thingy. That supposedly they run this laser up and down your spine and different spots and it causes your nervous system to not respond to those allergies. So if it works... I no longer have the allergy to 'trees and grass weed' next time I'm going to try 'Domestic Animals' and see if it helps with my allergies at all. The owners of the house that we live in have a dog... and well... It's either that or something else. Maybe I'm allergic to people and I will just be sneezing and having an awesome time forever! :) 

We did a ton of service this week!! We set up an old library for a book sale - lots of dust, lots of interesting books, and we had donuts at the end.. mmm... Southern Hospitality. haha. We also went to an Animal Shelter! They didn't have any dogs... only rabbits, cats, snakes, fish, and birds. Oh and Chinchillas! I didn't even know what Chinchillas were!! I still don't really know what they are... they look like really big field mice mixed with a rabbit... Which is really freaky... I think the word Chinchilla is pretty cool though. Yes I am a dork. Anywho! The best service activity this week: We cleaned up the yard of a less active member. Let me tell yah. have you ever seen hoarder shows... well it wasn't that bad... but there was a ton of stuff! Tons of tools, rusted machinery, shotgun shells, lawn mowers, jacks, tarps, tons of firewood, and poison oak. It was super fun! He also had an old race car! He raced once upon a time but after spending about 10 grand on his car and not getting anything from racing... he decided it was time to give it up. Hopefully we can get him coming out to church, he says the only thing that is keeping him back is that he has so many little jobs that he needs to do, and the only day he has off from work is Sunday. SO he will have no excuse after his yard is clean!

We then went and visited another Less active member named Fred Jr. He is an interesting dude. He doesn't really have a desire to know anything about God or the church or anything. He enjoys talking with us though. He is a really good cook too. He made us Chocolate dipped strawberries. They were super good. 

We had Zone Conference this week. Only one more meeting with President Pitt and then they go home! AAAHHHH! no bueno! he is such an awesome Mission President, but I'm excited for the new Mission President. It's always interesting to see how other people work so perhaps things will just sky rocket! During ZC we practiced talking to people and how we should just get to the point as soon as we can and bear testimony because it is the spirit that is going to testify to people. We also practiced answering questions that people would bring up to us like:

Do Mormons regard the Bible as Holy Scripture and the word of God?

What do Mormons believe about Jesus Christ? Do Mormons believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God?
What is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' attitude regarding homosexuality and same sex marriage?

and many, many more. We were to answer these questions in 40 seconds or less. It was intense. We did it and then they showed us how we were supposed to respond to the question, or the churches stance on the questions. Things are becoming more and more 'touchy' to talk about, when we need to be bold and straight forward. God does not change. He is the same Yesterday, Today, and Forever. We may not understand everything that goes on, or why things are the way they are, but God does, and man cannot comprehend all the things that God does. The World is changing. We cannot change with the world. We need to take a firm stand in what we believe, even if it seems to bring us momentary pain, discomfort, unsatisfactory results. A big talk that I strongly suggest everyone to read is "His Grace is Sufficient" by Brad Wilcox. It is a byu speech. But it talks about how "difficult" it is to be a member, and so forth. It's not going to be easy. Life is Hard, but with the Savior our weaknesses can become strengths. We must not give up, we must not give in.

Alright final thing! I have a mama and papa out here in Back Creek. Benita and Alan Ferguson. They are amazing. They have already given me a nickname: Phone. Sister Isobes name is: Princess. So together we are the: Princess Phone. Which supposedly was a "cool" phone back in the day. haha. Since they were reactivated into the church about a year ago by Sister Tuckett and Richards, they have been taking care of, and watching over the missionaries that come into the area. I have never felt so much love from people that I met for the very first time. I was instantly their child. I can't really describe how I felt when I was around them. I was just happy. We shared the Mormon message: Reclaimed with them, and talked about Repentance. 

The part that stuck out to me in Preach my Gospel: "Repentance includes forming a fresh view of God, ourselves, and the world." "The definition of reclaim is “to recall from wrong or improper conduct … to rescue from an undesirable state” It is all about becoming who we know we can be and who God wants us to be. There is always something greater that we can do and be. things we can improve on. It is never too late to start again, there is no such thing with the Atonement, we can always start now. It all starts with a Desire. 

Well I hope everything is going well. Big things are happening back home! and I hope everyone can keep their heads on straight! I love you all. Be good, and don't have too much fun! 

Loves,

Sister Karen Call

"Whoever you are and wherever you may be, you hold in your hands the happiness of more people than you can now imagine. Every day and every hour you can choose to make or keep a covenant with God. Wherever you are on the path to inherit the gift of eternal life, you have the opportunity to show many people the way to greater happiness. When you choose whether to make or keep a covenant with God, you choose whether you will leave an inheritance of hope to those who might follow your example."
—Henry B. Eyring

The Land of Back Creek!

Holla Familia!

So this week was transfers week! CRAZY!! After being in Christiansburg for 6 months I thought I was going to be there the rest of my mission haha. I really liked Christiansburg. I went through a lot there. I went full Circle on experiences. Which I don't suggest, It was like having a mid life crisis, and having an awesome time too. It was weird. yeah... Anywho! I had fun my last few days in Christiansburg It was sad to say a few goodbyes to people, everyone pretty much knew I was leaving. So yeah. 

Transfer day was pretty interesting. I didn't leave Christiansburg until 5ish. We had picked up Sister White earlier that morning, and she waited with us as well until the new Sisters would arrive. Sister White is going to be companions with Sister Stone! I love that girl I came out with her! Sister Maddox's new companion is Sister Vanvakaris! HOLY NAME!! We had never heard of Sister Van... She came out in December. This will be the First time that Sister Maddox is the Senior Companion. Sister Maddox will do just fine. 

Well now about Back Creek!! OH MY GOODNESS it is soooo pretty here! I have heard so much about Back Creek. It is where Sister Richards was trained (for 6 weeks) and she is pretty much a legend out here! Not really sure why, because she was here for only 6 weeks... but I feel it was due to Awesome piano skillz. I have heard so much about the people, area, house, etc! and it is all true!!! EVERYONE in the ward is related... because of like four ancestors. It's insane. So when they say Family Ward, they really mean Family Ward! The Area is small there are like four mountains and the parents live at the bottom and the posterity has built their way up the mountain. The House we live in, Oh my goodness, maybe it is because I was Carpet and Window deprived for 6 months... but this place is beautiful! The View is Spectacular! Windows, Carpets, Trees, OH MY! Every time I look out our window I think of Joseph Smiths First Prayer. Literally the song pops into my mind and everything. Weirdo missionary moment everyday haha. I have just loved Back Creek so far. It just feels so good. 

My new companion is Sister Isobe! She is awesome! she could be like my Little Asian Twin! She is so chill about things and just goes and gets it done! She will probably be leaving me this next transfer because she has been here for a while (this will be her third transfer here) but hey who knows! 

So Mothers Day was FANTASTIC!!! I got to talk to my lovely mother.. well Sort of ;) mostly see them on Skype and talk about how to get it working, but it was still awesome just to see them! and Cindy! yeah! and then we had a Baptism!!! it was such an awesome experience! There are Golden People out in this world. Elect children of God searching for the Gospel. Josie - the one who got baptized. Is an amazing girl! Huge example to all those who are around her. It was such a wonderful experience to ponder and think about baptismal covenants. 

Well I love you all and I hope you are having a great day! 

Loves,

Sister Call

"A mother can exert an influence unequaled by any other person in any other relationship. By the power of her example and teaching, her sons learn to respect womanhood and to incorporate discipline and high moral standards in their own lives. Her daughters learn to cultivate their own virtue and to stand up for what is right, again and again, however unpopular. A mother’s love and high expectations lead her children to act responsibly without excuses, to be serious about education and personal development, and to make ongoing contributions to the well-being of all around them."

—D. Todd Christofferson

Falling Asleep Near Gethsemane

Holla Familia!

This week has been pretty good. Last Monday we went out to lunch with Laura- she is a lady we have been helping clean her house getting ready to move, she is a friend of a member in the ward. She brought us to a place called Lefty's It was pretty good. There were a bunch of pictures in the restaurant and they were all of people who were left handed, and the person who started up Lefty's is left handed as well... how crazy is that. haha

We also helped Sister Hendricks with the Primary School Carnival Fundraiser, she was having a hard time finding Volunteers to come and help out. Lots of members in the church stepped up to help out. Sister Maddox and I got to man the ticket booth for two hours. That was fun! We got to see a lot of people! so it was perfect on trying to get our name out there. The only down side... Half my body got sunburned, Ouch. It wasn't that bad, but I looked pretty funny haha. 

We also had Exchanges with the Blacksburg Sisters. I went with Sister Richards to Blacksburg and Sister Whitaker went to Christiansburg with Sister Maddox. Sister Richards told me to study about the Atonement to teach to a less-active family, the Crows, that we were going to go and see. I have been feeling a little down about things for a little while and have tried to rekindle, and this week I have learned a lot of things. I think it all started off at this lesson. I didn't really contribute much in the lesson, but I did talk a little about the Garden of Gethsemane. How a lot of churches focus so much on the cross, how his suffering and death was there. But in all reality thousands of other people during that time were crucified, Peter was crucified. That pain that was felt on the cross was not unique it was not the ultimate pain. It was during the Garden of Gethsemane. I read a few days earlier, I can't remember where right now, but about the pain that was felt in Gethsemane. That it wasn't just the Physical pain that he felt, but the excruciating Mental pain. Physical pain can be remedied and cured (most of the time), but Mental,Emotional, and Spiritual pain is not so easy. The feeling of Everyone's pains.  The Heartbreaks, fear, sorrow, depression, anger, doubt, and etc. Everything we have felt. Similar to the Spirit - It is said to be as a Still Small Voice, something you could say was a "physical hearing", but as Nephi speaks to his brethren about how the Spirit spoke to them "but they were past feeling". Christ suffered Physically, but he suffered Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual pain even more. Thinking about how his apostles were just a stones cast away, and they fell asleep. I just thought at that moment how we can be asleep to the blessing of the Saviors sacrifice for us. We didn't know that it was happening, didn't see it, didn't feel it. But it Happened, and even though we may be "asleep" to the reality that he made an infinite sacrifice for us, it is still there for us when we finally "wake up" and realize. and just as his apostles fell asleep several times. We too can fall asleep over and over again, but we continually wake up as well. Eventually that sleep will not come to us anymore. 

This thought also went with a talk that the Blacksburg sisters sent, "Converted Unto the Lord" by Elder Bednar. The difference between our Testimony and Conversion. Staying awake is that extra oil we put into our lamps, that conversion that we have. and there was a quote in it that I really liked and really stuck with me: 

"Were the five wise virgins selfish and unwilling to share, or were they indicating correctly that the oil of conversion cannot be borrowed? Can the spiritual strength that results from consistent obedience to the commandments be given to another person? Can the knowledge obtained through diligent study and pondering of the scriptures be conveyed to one who is in need? Can the peace the gospel brings to a faithful Latter-day Saint be transferred to an individual experiencing adversity or great challenge? The clear answer to each of these questions is no."

We can't have a desire to stay awake if there isn't that conversion. I think the difference between a Testimony and Conversion is desire. Testimony is what we say we believe in, and as we have a Desire to become what we believe in, that is when it becomes a Conversion. When we believe and desire to become and live and do as the Savior taught. 

I keep falling asleep. But as I learn more, and share more, my desire to stay awake grows. 

This week has been a real time of Pondering for me. I have a lot to do, and a lot to let go. A lot to remember. 

It was also a difficult week because Transfers is tomorrow, and I am leaving. I found out Yesterday that I was leaving. After being here for 6 Months... I guess it was time. I will be headed to Back Creek Virginia and my new companion is Sister Isobe!! I did exchanges with her in Ohio a really long time ago haha. AND guess what! Sister Richards is going to Vinton Virginia and she will be my STL again with Sister Canova! AH! I love Sister Richards and Canova! They are probably the two awesomest Sister Missionaries I know. I'm super excited. 

I hope all is going well with everyone back home! 

Happy Birthday Daddy! Hope you Heal well, and that the Garden and Boat get taken care of ;)

I love you all! Strive Constantly to live a more Christlike life! 

Loves, 

Sister Karen Call