Exciting Week!

Hello from Iowa!

We had a wonderful week again!  Yes, Satan is still working hard on each of the people that we get to work with, but it is like the analogies used in the April 2014 General Conference with trees and wind, and how wind not only makes the trees cellular composition stronger, but it causes the roots to grow deeper.  So we have to remember, that through opposition we grow!

Exciting events from this past week!

- On Monday we got a call from Elder Shelley telling us that he had a new car for us that we could come pick up the next day!

- Tuesday we pulled up to the mission office and saw three new mission cars and had our eyes on a certain color that we liked better than the others, and it happened that Elder Shelley had randomly assigned that car to our area before we had arrived! Tender Mercy!

- We were able to help out in the mission office which it has been a little while since we have been there so that was fun!

-We continue to count down the days until we get to move in with members!  (We move on Wednesday!)

- The weather has been beautiful and so more people have been outside which makes street contacting so much more fun!

- I am so grateful for the power of the Priesthood and the influence that it can have on each of our lives!  It is the way that we are able to make covenants with our Father in Heaven.  It is the way that we are able to partake of the Sacrament each week.  It is the way that we can be united with our families for eternity! It is the way that our Father in Heaven has provided for His power to be exercised on Earth.

- For an entire week I hadn't been able to sleep through the night.  I had no idea how stressed I was until, last Wednesday we had gone to the library for Mormon.org time and I had been selecting pictures for a departing slide show.  Afterwards we went back to the apartment for lunch and during lunch we got a phone call from the Library asking if I had a Canon Camera and if it was in a colorful case.  It was then that I realized that I didn't have my camera.  The wonderful worker had looked through my pictures and saw the name badge, and with the last name was able to identify my library card and phone number.  Tender Mercy! Needless to say I realized just how stressed I was and so the next day I was able to get a Priesthood blessing and I have been able to sleep through the nights, and I haven't been forgetting things!  Tender Mercy!

- On Thursday the wife of a former investigator called us and invited us for dinner the following night!  Her husband just started a job in Spokane and so they will be moving there in the next few weeks, but she mentioned how her husband said that he was thinking about attending a "Mormon" church that Sunday!  Dinner was wonderful! She is from Laos, so she made us some sticky rice that we would roll up and then eat with a piece of chicken, and she made some pho soup which was delicious!

- Carlie had cancelled our appointment on Thursday and then we hadn't heard back from her in a couple of days, so we were running through everything that could have happened and expecting the worst, but on Saturday we decided to just drop by and we weren't sure what to expect. . . . It was wonderful!  She had had a crazy week, and opposition continues to come her way, but she is so strong and keeps her commitments!  I love Tommy and Carlie so much, because I feel like I am able to be myself around them and my personality comes out more!  Like Carlie had mentioned how she meant to text us back, and Tommy had even commented on her not responding yet, and so we were laughing because we told her that as missionaries since this is our life we look at the phone and go "It has been 3 hours, they haven't responded.  Oh no, do they hate us?  Did someone anti them? etc.," ha-ha anyways it was really neat, Carlie mentioned some of her conversations with coworkers as she has told them that she wants to be baptized! And so different questions would come with the coworkers and she would tell them that "the Sisters came by once and they visited and she liked them and that is how it all started."

- Greg was the only one we work with that came to church yesterday!  He is such a great kid!  He had dated one of the young women in the ward and that is how he was introduced to the church, but since he is under 18 he doesn't have parental permission yet, but he is so solid!  Tons of opposition has come, but he continues to come to church, and he even goes to seminary every morning at 6:00 a.m.!  It is such a neat experience for the youth to have Greg attend seminary and each of the activities, because Emily (one of the young women in our ward) mentioned how they had been studying D&C 33 in seminary about missionary work and opening your mouth.  When Greg made a comment in class that went along the lines of "as members you have such an amazing thing that many people don't know about.  Open your mouths and there is power that comes forth.  Some don't have the opportunity to have it in their lives all the time!  Share it!"

-Yesterday was beautiful and we were able to spend several hours outside which was delightful, because people are a lot happier when the weather is nice, so we met a lot of wonderful people!

-We caught a frog yesterday as we were walking back home!

Anyways, I am so grateful for the Gospel!  This morning we were studying the process of sanctification which is so neat, because D&C 88 has a lot on sanctification and the process of becoming pure and like our Father in Heaven, but the last 6 verses in D&C 130 sum up the process of sanctification, that is as we grow in intelligence/knowledge, we are obedient, which allows the Holy Ghost to be our companion, and the Holy Ghost purifies us a little more, which as we are more pure we grow in knowledge/intelligence, and the cycle is repeated!

I love you all so much and hope you have a wonderful week!

Love, Sister Call

Jesus Christ Lives!!!

Dear Family & Friends:

This week was transfer week and I get to stay here in Walnut Hills with Sister Chirinos!  I love it here and we had another good week!

Well Satan was in full force this week with our investigators!
-Thursday we were going to have dinner and a lesson with Tommy and Carlie, at one of the Bishopric member's homes, but an hour or two before hand, Carlie texted us saying that she was so sorry, but tonight wasn't going to work, because Tommy was told that he had to work late, and Carlie's little sister had been taken to the hospital.

- Friday we were supposed to meet with Jessica, and we had confirmed with her the day before and she was super excited because she has been reading the Book of Mormon!  We went to her place, and no one was there, so we waited and tried again, still nothing.  We called/texted her, still nothing.  The next day she responded saying that she was so sorry but that she had had to take her son to the dentist for an emergency.

-Friday evening we were able to go to Tommy and Carlie's and have a lesson, which went well, but Tommy's mom had told them this week that they needed to stop drinking coffee which had caught them off guard, so we explained the Word of Wisdom, and so between that and not being able to get her work schedule changed, Carlie wants to hold off on her baptism at this point.

- On Saturday, in the middle of the night we got a text from David, saying that they wouldn't be able to make it to church.

But we still had a wonderful week!

-One of the seniors at the community center had asked us if we could come help her, so on Tuesday we were able to clean her lower cupboards and fridge since it is hard for her!

- On Saturday we were able to help out at the stake family history day!  Sister Chirinos and I were able to be with the youth and the room was packed, with young men and young women who were spending their Saturday doing family history!

-The facilitator in the room we were in, Sister K., was amazing!  She has had many wonderful experiences in the 8 years that she has been a member.  She mentioned how she had a friend that invited her to activities for at least 2 years, before she came to church, and then started meeting the missionaries.  And how her son when they attended an LDS church for the first time said "Mom, this is right.  This is where we need to be."  She and her son faced major opposition from family because of their decision to join the church.  And then just four months ago, her son was killed in Afghanistan, so she truly felt alone in the church, but then the night before (so Friday night) her sister who lives in California called her and said that she has decided that she wants to be baptized and was wondering how soon Sister K and her husband could fly out there!
The Gospel is real!  It changes, and blesses lives beyond our own comprehension!  The adversary understands the strength that comes from making and keeping covenants and that is why he works so hard to prevent them from happening!

Another highlight from my week has been studying "Jesus the Christ".  Which I had tried earlier in my mission, and was stuck at the beginning, so I hadn't touched it for several months, but the past week or two I have been reading from it every day and I am amazed at how much it helps me to know my Savior even more!

Jesus Christ lives!  He is our Savior!  He truly performed many miracles, and continues to perform miracles in each of our lives each day!

I love you all and hope you have a wonderful week!

Love, Sister Call

Lot of Miracles This Week

Dear Family & Friends:

Transfers are this week, but I'm pretty sure that Sister Chirinos and I are safe!
Anyways, we had lots of miracles this week!

- We were able to meet with Pam, who has had contact with the church since the mid 80's, and still has each of the pamphlets that missionaries have given her.

- Tuesday was just one of those long days, so the miracle of the day was that we made it through the day!

- The Grimes Public Library is moving back into the remodeled library, so on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday we were able to help place the books back on the shelves.  We were able to meet many wonderful people and talk about the church with them!

- One of the greatest text messages a missionary can receive is a referral from church headquarters (visitor centers, websites, etc).  And on Wednesday we received a referral which it has been months since I have received one! Anyways, we called the referral and she mentioned how she felt that there was a void in her life or something missing and she can't identify what it is, but that she has a friend that lives in Ames, IA that suggested that she give the church a try!

-The following day we were able to meet with Jessica and it was such a neat experience because she loved the idea of Christ's church being restored!

-Thursday evening we had our lesson with Tommy and Karlie's family and it is so exciting!  Because they are growing as a family, and they are able to ask each other questions and then teach one another in a way, but then if they still have questions then they can ask us.  We talked about prayer and fasting and how they can be used to help receive divine guidance and help, and how we can use it to ask Heavenly Father for help in allowing Karlie's work schedule to change so she can have Sunday's off.  We extended the baptismal date of November 29th and so if all continues to go well Karlie will be baptized on that date!

- Friday we were able to help Rene out at the community center in Grimes because they were having an ice cream social in honor of their 2 year anniversary of being open.  It was neat, because several of the seniors came up to us and asked if we could help them, like the Elders had in years past.  So we are going to go help a couple of them in the next few weeks!

Walnut Hills District.  Back row L-R:  Elders Keller, Topham, Porter, & Swainston, Sisters Call & Chirinos
Front row: Elder Payne & Grow

- Sunday had many miracles!

- In ward council one of the Bishopric member's offered for us to come this week with Tommy and Karlie to his home for dinner and a lesson!  Haha!  Everyone else in ward council looked at him like he was a very brave person, without first asking his wife.  But his wife is wonderful so she was totally fine with the offer!

- Sure enough David, Ming, and Oliver showed up for Sacrament meeting!  They are the greatest!  This time we were able to talk with them briefly after Sacrament meeting and teach a little and answer a few questions!  The ward members are great and are helping out in so many ways to help with each of the people we are working with!

- We had a crazy but really good Sacrament meeting, because between 2 confirmations, 2 baby blessings, stake and ward business, and having an unusually large number of people in attendance, it was 9:45 before the speakers even started.

- The lease at our apartment is up at the end of this month and so we have been trying to find members that might want to house the missionaries. Sister Chirinos and I have been thinking that the Rundall's would be so wonderful to live with, and that their home would qualify for missionary housing, and so on Sunday Bishop asked the Rundall's and they said YES!!!  We are so excited and will be able to move in near the end of the month!  I think it is wonderful because Heavenly Father answers each of our prayers even the small ones.  Like when I was about to be transferred from the Des Moines Ward I prayed that someone would do our laundry, and we were blessed with the Buttorff's in Mount Vernon!  And then I've thought it would be wonderful to live with members, and now I will be able to have that opportunity as well!

Anyways, I love you all and I hope you have a wonderful week!  The Gospel is real and does change lives!

Love, Sister Call

A nasty wig that was in our apartment.  I don't think I will bring the mullet back.  We are finding all kinds of treasures pink-washing and de-junking the apartment.

I still love ice cream!

Love General Conference Week

Dear Family & Friends:

Can I just say how much I love General Conference?  I love it so much, and especially more as a missionary!  How great of an opportunity we have to not only know that there are living Prophets on the Earth today that lead and guide Christ's church, but that we have such convenient access to their words and counsel!

This week was another wonderful, exciting, crazy week on a mission!

Corn Field Picture

- Monday night after our dinner appointment we went to the street we had planned on tracting.  Now the 8:00 pm hour is one of my least favorite hours of the day as a missionary, because it is getting late, people are getting ready for bed and it is dark outside.  It didn't help either that the street we had picked the night before, had gigantic houses on it.  But Sister Chirinos and I parked the car, and decided that we would still venture the street since we had told Heavenly Father that that is where we would be at that time!  We went and knocked on the first house and ,Chad, answered the door, and allowed us to step inside!  We then had a good 20 minute conversation with him and taught him the Restoration.  It was neat because near the end he said "I didn't know that.  See you can learn things everyday!"

- Tuesday was crazy!  So during studies Sister Jensen called and said that she would be in town for the evening and was wondering if she could come out with us.  We said that we would try to set up a firm appointment so that she could come!  So we scrambled trying to find someone to meet with us that night.  And it wasn't until like 5:30 that evening when Rene said that we could come over around 7.  I absolutley love Sister Jensen and learn so much from her.  The lesson with Rene was interesting, because in Sister Jensen's words she said it was as if Rene is almost trying to convert us, but how we need to help Rene to read the Book of Mormon and feel the Spirit that it contains!

-Wednesday we were able to help out in the mission office again, but good news is that the Shelley's are back to the mission now!  So the office shouldn't be as crazy now, but they may have us still come in each week to help them :)

Another cornfield picture.  (If you look close, Sister Chirinos is in
 the bottom of the picture. She may have or may have not fallen down
 right before the camera took the picture )

-Wednesday evening we had a lesson with Olivia and one of the young women who has really fellowshipped Olivia, came for the lesson before they headed to mutual!  We watched the Restoration DVD and taught about the Book of Mormon!  Rachael (the young woman) bore a powerful sweet testimony of what the Book of Mormon means to her!  She mentioned about how the Book of Mormon gives her what she needs.  Like if she needs peace then she reads the Book of Mormon.  If she needs to focus, she reads the Book of Mormon.  If she needs to fall asleep, she reads the Book of Mormon!

- After Olivia's lesson we stayed in Grimes and went to try contacting the Coffin's or some formers.  We decided last minute to walk, but the Coffin's weren't home, and when we went to try Pam's, no one answered, but as we were getting ready to leave, this woman was walking through the hallway and said "were you knocking on my door?"  Sure enough it was Pam and we were able to set up an appointment for this evening!  Then as we were heading back we were almost to the stop light, when this lady yells from her car "Do you need a ride?"  And then she says "wait stop right there, don't move."  We were so confused, because we didn't recognize her, but then she pulled over, and it ended up being a member from Sister Chirinos' first area!  So that was exciting!  Another exciting thing from that night was that the Coffin's texted and asked if we could come by Thursday or Friday!

-Thursday was crazy because we called our Sister Training leaders saying that Friday may not be the best day for exchanges, so we decided that we would start exchanges that afternoon!  I was able to be with Sister Whipple in Des Moines!  And it was so much fun!  I love her so much and it was fun to see some of the people in Des Moines.  We stopped by Gary's twice, but no one was home either time :(  But we still had a good day!  Sister Whipple said that going back to your old area is like being a grandparent.  You come, you play with the kids aka (visit some of the people you know), and then you leave, and the parents (or missionaries serving there) still have the headaches that come from an area.

Exchanges  L-R  Sisters Chirinos, Call, Whipple, Barker

-Anyways Sister Chirinos and Sister Barker were able to go to the Coffins and had an amazing lesson!  Tommy had read all the way to 1 Nephi 8 and Karlie asked for her own copy of the Book of Mormon.  She gladly accepted the baptismal invite!  The only hold up is her work schedule right now.  She doesn't have any vacation left for the year, and so we and they have been praying that God will prepare a way for them to attend church as a family!  She was so sincere and said that come January she can save all of her vacation time and use it for a Sunday a month!  Anyways, please pray that a way will be opened up for them to attend church, and for Karlie to be baptized!

-Friday was fun!  So this week the mission presidents were sent a copy of the movie "Meet the Mormons” that is coming to theaters on October 10th!  So we had a "mission meeting" Friday morning where we were able to watch the movie!  It is so well done and so inspiring!  Please if you are at all possible, go and watch it in the theatres this weekend!

-General Conference was amazing!  I loved Conference and it was the first and only time on my mission that I have watched it in a members home!  Saturday morning we were at the Rundall's home, where the Laurels came and we had a big breakfast before watching the session!  Saturday afternoon we went to the Wadsworth's to watch conference!  It was really neat because when we arrived at the Wadsworth's home on Saturday Brother Wadsworth wasn't feeling well so he was upstairs, but halfway through the session he came down and he stops when he came to the living room and said "Whoah, Thank you sisters for watching it in our home. You can feel your spirit in our home."  It was neat, because it was a win, win situation because we were privileged to feel the spirit in their home, and apparently they were able to noticeably feel a spirit that we had about us!  Sunday morning we were at the Wadsworth's again; and David, Ming, and Oliver came and watched conference at the Wadsworth's!  Which is so neat, because we have not been able to teach them at all, because their schedules are crazy, but they keep coming to church, and they don't have much a religious background!  It is neat because even though they may not fully understand what is going on, or why they keep coming, they must be feeling some sort of pull (the Spirit) that allows them to keep wanting to come to church!

My first time using a type writer!

I loved each of the messages from General Conference and each of us can re evaluate our priorities and heed the counsel of our leaders to make sure that we have a strong foundation!  Much of what was said at conference reminded me of something that one of my MTC teachers said which was "keep your conversion current, by having powerful spiritual experiences daily."

I love you all!

Love, Sister Call

Wonderful Walnut Hills Ward

Dear Family & Friends:

We had another wonderful week in the Walnut Hills Ward!

Monday was Sister Chirinos' Birthday and that evening we were able to have dinner and our monthly missionary coordination meeting with Bishop!  

Rene called us and said that she had ordered lunches for us so when we came to call Bingo that we could come a little bit earlier and have lunch, and visited with the seniors!  

We were able to meet with the Relief Society President and go over the ward list with her and see who she would like us to focus on and help!

Sister Call & Sister Chirino

Brooklyn, who is one of the young women in our ward, came out with us for a few hours, and she said that while she did the mini mission earlier this summer that her favorite part was tracting!  So we'll make sure to allow some time for tracting each time she comes out with us!

We finally were able to meet with Greg and his wife Amy.  The Elders had met with them a few times in the past few months and they are Evangelical Christians, but love talking about God and learning more!  The lesson was such a neat experience.  At first they were talking about grace and how they feel that we think of grace and works differently than they do, but then Sister Chirinos said "I don't think it is grace that differentiates us.  The one thing that does differentiate us is the Priesthood."  It was so neat, because the Spirit was really strong and you could see the wheels turning as pieces were starting to come together for them.  They then asked what they could read that would help them understand the Priesthood better!  And really if they can just understand this important piece, that indeed Christ's church has been restored through a modern day prophet, then the rest will fall into place for them!

Olivia went to mutual again this week and fits in so well with the young women!  After mutual we were able to have a short lesson with her and her grandma!  They mentioned how Oliva and her dad want a stronger relationship, which will come through the gospel, because the gospel is about relationships!  Relationships with our Father in Heaven, relationships with our Savior, relationships with our family, and relationships with others.  And if we are willing to apply the principles and teachings of the gospel we can have stronger relationships!

Thursday we were out tracting and at one of the homes that we stopped by, it was a Chinese family and their sons answered the door.  We introduced ourselves, gave them a mormon.org card with the address to church and invited them to church.  Which they said that they would be there and they asked if we would be there.  So yesterday we were at church and David and Ming did not show up for Sacrament meeting.  So Sister Chirinos and I were in the Gospel Principles class when one of the missionaries from the ward that meets at 11:00, came and got us from class saying "your investigators are here"  Sure enough, David, Ming and their cousin Oliver were sitting in a pew with another missionary.  The pew in front of them was open so, we went in and said hello and then attended the Sacrament meeting of the Raccoon River ward with them!  They don't have much/if any religious background and so we pulled out a pamphlet that talks about the Sacrament that we gave them during the Sacrament so they knew what was going on.  haha anyways, despite it being their first time, and having only introduced ourselves briefly at the doorstep a few days earlier, they seemed to have a good time, and want to keep coming to church!

Saturday was wonderful as well!  Since the Shelley's are still in Utah, we were able to go and help the Stringham's in the mission office again!  Saturday afternoon we were working in Grimes and had tried a part member family, and were walking towards the next place, when Rene drives by and waves, and then the next thing we know, she has turned around and pulled over.  She asked if we had been to the ice cream shop yet, and that she would like to treat us to ice cream!  We had a wonderful visit with her and invited her to church, so hopefully in the next while she will come to church with us!

I LOVED the women's broadcast!  And am so excited for General Conference!  I think it is amazing how when we are prepared with questions or things that we want to know, that the Spirit touches our hearts and lets us know the answers!  One of my favorite parts was when they showed the video of women all around the world testifying of the blessings of the temple.  And it was in all different languages, but the Spirit was SO strong!  And it goes to show that it doesn't matter what language we speak, or how well we speak it, but that it is the Spirit that touches hearts!

Anyways, I hope you all have a wonderful week and enjoy conference!  What a wonderful opportunity we have to listen to our Prophets, Seers and Revelators!

Love, Sister Call

A Week Full of Miracles!

Dear Family & Friend:

We survived our first full week in the Walnut Hills West area!  And a huge accomplishment is that we are not getting lost near as often, despite the fact that most of the subdivisions are new enough they aren't on my GPS.  But this week was full of miracles!

- Had a wonderful dinner with the Rundall family where Sister Rundall invited us to come to mutual on Wednesday with the Laurels.

- Dropped by and met Ken, a person that the Elders had been working with!  He is from Kenya and has done very well professionally and despite being busy he allowed us to come and share a message with him!  He had started the Book of Mormon, but hasn't read for a little bit, so we invited him to begin reading again.  He has a wonderful faith in Jesus Christ and understands that the greatest thing we can do in our lives is to follow Him!

- We were able to do service and help mow an older gentleman's lawn, which the elders had been doing this summer.  

- We have continued to meet many members and others that the Elders before us have met!

- We went side walk chalk finding for Sister Chirinos' first time!  

- We met the most amazing couple ever!  The Stout's!  Sister Stout is battling brain cancer and isn't expected to live much longer, but her testimony and the experiences she shared with us were so inspiring and their home emulated the Spirit that is in the temples.  Sister Chirinos said it best when we were there she said "Sister Stout, if you were the only person that we met on our missions, then our mission would be worth it!"

- We had dinner with the Wadsworth's.  She is the Relief Society President and was good friends/roommates with one of the Heather Thompson's sisters!

- We went to mutual and were with the Laurels!  We decorated notebooks in preparation for General Conference!  There were two non members there including, Olivia who lives right across the hall from the Elders!  She fit in so well and it is fun, because we are working together on helping Olivia.  Like the Elders are focusing more on Olivia's dad, because they can relate better with him, and Sister Chirinos and I get to work with Olivia!  We are so excited!

- We had an appointment with Margarita, who she and her husband are not members, but almost all of their kids are!  We were the first set of sister missionaries they have ever had in the many years of missionaries going over there, and Margarita asked while we were there if we could come back each week and help her read/teach the Book of Mormon to her daughters!

- Friday we had a shortened zone conference here in Des Moines!  I cannot adequately describe how much I love President and Sister Jensen and how grateful I am for the opportunity to be serving in the Iowa Des Moines Mission under them!  They truly are inspired in their work and in their trainings!  President Jensen trained on our mission vision and it was really neat he taught about the importance of always looking to the scriptures and to the prophets and apostles for direction!   Sister Jensen trained on the revelation that takes place during transfers and how President Jensen receives a spiritual confirmation for every companionship.

- Friday night we went to contact a former that lived in a town home.  They were a family of 6 kids.  We knocked on the door and a man answers and says "Sisters!  Come on in!  Have you had dinner yet?"  We asked if there was a female present before we went in and then the kids introduced themselves.  And Sister Chirinos and I weren't sure what was taking place finally I asked "Are you members?"  And they started laughing. . . . Umm ya, the Pokuk family, who are in our ward, now live where a former once lived! Haha, anyways it was a pleasant surprise that allowed us to get to know the family and have dinner with them!  

- That evening we continued to contact potentials and we went to meet Rene, who it said loved missionaries and wanted them to call Bingo at the Community Center.  It was after 8:00 pm when we knocked on her door, so it was already getting dark out.  She answered the door and asked who we were and what we wanted.  We introduced ourselves and said how the Elders had met her, and that we would be happy to help out with BINGO.  She proceeds, in a very professional way, that here were her business hours and we could stop by there and she would tell us more about helping with BINGO.  We gave her our card and then we talked just briefly.  She then says we should go get coffee sometime.  We mentioned that we didn't drink coffee, but would love to go get hot chocolate or something of that sort.  Then we continued on with our evening.

- When we got back to our apartment that night we noticed that we had a voicemail from Rene saying that she was free for lunch tomorrow!!!!  

-Saturday morning we went and helped the Stringham's in the mission office, since the Shelley's are in Utah right now.  And then we headed to lunch with Rene!  She was so excited that we were girls and we had a wonderful visit over lunch.  She introduced us to the owners of the little bistro where we ate, and the owners when they found out that we were Mormon's they got really excited and said "we would love for you to come and visit with us!"    Rene then proceeded to show us a few different places here in Grimes and introduced us to several more people!  

- Sunday was a beautiful day as well and we had a wonderful time at church!  Our ward mission leader passes around a calendar for the Young Women/Relief Society to come out with us and we have 5 different laurels that are coming out with us in the next two weeks!  And one laurel who is really excited to serve a mission said "Sisters I only have two nights that I can even come with you, Wednesday and Saturday."  We thought that she would have signed up for like one of the days. . . nope, she signed up to come out with us for the next two Wednesdays and Saturdays!

- We had both a lunch appointment and a dinner appointment!  One was with an active family and the other was with a less active couple that we met last Sunday and they invited us for dinner!  

- Sunday evening we had been in Dallas Center and then felt like we should come and try a former and a less active in Grimes.  The former wasn't home, so we tried the less active.  He answered the door and we talked briefly with him, then his almost 3 year old son said "Are you going to come in?"  Haha, oh how we love little kids!  So his parents let us in!  Kylie (the wife)  is not a member, and Tommy hasn't been to church in quite a while, but they are such an adorable family and we very welcoming to us sharing a message, leaving a Book of Mormon and offering to bring a children's Book of Mormon the next time we come!  Also, it was really cute because as we were trying to keep their son focused and were showing him the pictures at the front of the Book of Mormon, Kylie said in regards to who Jesus Christ is "He is the greatest Super hero ever!"  and little Jackson got way excited!  But it was neat how parents truly are the best teachers and know how to relate to their children so that they will understand!

I love you all and love the opportunity I have to be serving a mission here in Iowa!  To help others to strengthen their relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ!

Love, Sister Call

Where is Sister Call? PINK WASHING!!

Dear Family & Friends:                                             

Oh the week of transfers. . . You love them and you hate them.  

So as you all know last Monday we got our transfer calls in the morning letting us know that I would be leaving Mount Vernon and Sister Porter would be staying and training. . .  they forgot to mention one slight detail that day that I didn't find out until my name was called at transfers! 

The last frog Sister Porter & I caught.

Now you may be wondering where I am right now, who my companion is, or what the slight detail that they forgot was, but I didn't find out until Thursday, and many things took place before Thursday.

So let's start with Monday!  Monday was by far one of the best days I have had in Mount Vernon!  When we were done emailing we went and had lunch at the high school with Kelbie, which was a lot of fun and her friends love the missionaries so it is a win win situation!  That afternoon we went and spent some time in Clarence and Stanwood before heading to Tipton for the evening.  We had an appointment with Jeff and right after with Chris (who we haven't seen since the middle of May), and then FHE with Karla.  We had about 10 minutes before the lesson with Jeff so we decided to run into the grocery store to get a treat that we could bring to Karla's.  As Sister Porter and I were standing by the door looking through the ads, a man walked in and stopped, he gave us the look of "I know you" but Sister Porter and I did not recognize him the slightest bit.  We start talking with him and it turns out that he used to live close to the church in Mount Vernon and the Elders have helped him with several projects.  He then said I'm going to buy you dinner, so we went to the little buffet in the grocery store and there wasn't much there, so he says "go on over to Hardees and your dinner is on me."  Which as missionaries this makes your day.  We headed to Hardees, and called Jeff and Karla and rearranged times that evening, and Tony bought us dinner and told us that if we were ever in Tipton in the afternoons to give him a call and lunch would be on him, because he had gained so much respect from the service that the Elders had given him and his mom!  Also, another crazy thing was that Tony had gone into the grocery store for just a bottle of water, and we didn't even end up getting treats for FHE. . . coincidence that we ran into each other?  I think not!

When we were done eating we went to Chris' and it was by far the best appointment we have had with him since I have been in Mount Vernon!  We taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ and when we got to baptism he said "The Elders asked me if I would be baptized if I knew it was true and I said yes, so I'm fine with being baptized."  Also, his girlfriend Alexis who hasn't had much interest at all, she sat in on the lesson and when it was time for the closing prayer, Chris didn't want to say it, and Alexis was like "it's easy!  It has the outline on how to pray right here."  and then Alexis ended up saying the closing prayer!  Also, I just love the Spirit, because as we were teaching about faith and repentance Chris said "Can I ask a question?  I know this may be stupid, but what are the commandments?"  And then without us evening saying what the commandments are he turned to Alexis and said "We would have to get married, because I'm pretty sure that is a commandment."  Anyways, it was an amazing lesson and I am excited for Sister Porter and her new companion to continue to work with Chris and Alexis!

After Chris's we were able to read from the Book of Mormon with Jeff before going to Karla's!  Karla is a single sister in our ward and the only active member in Tipton as of now. She is so in tune with the Spirit and we had a great lesson with her as we read 1 Nephi 1 and compared it to Joseph Smith's experience!

See Monday was a great day and you are probably still wondering where I am, but let's talk about Tuesday first :)

Tuesday morning we visited Grandma Mickey who is one of the many people in the Mount Vernon Branch that I have grown to love dearly!  We then had service, had a lesson with Karin, Anthony, and Angela, and visited Sister Askew.  We had dinner with the Yancey's, but they had forgot that we were coming over, so it was quite entertaining, but at the same time Sister Yancey handled the situation so wonderfully!  You could tell that she had raised 5 kids and so she didn't even seem panicked or anything as she gathered some things together from her fridge!

The Eskelsen Family

Wednesday was our p-day so we packed and cleaned, had lunch with the Eskelsen's, and went to Cedar Rapids to play basketball with our zone.

Did I ever mention that I have the hardest time sleeping for the entire week of transfers?  So I am exhausted right now, but no worries!

Thursday came and Sister Young picked us up to head to Iowa City for the meeting!  I love missionary meetings and seeing many of the missionaries!  When it came time for President to read off transfer assignments he was going along, and then I hear "Sister Call"  but it took me a little while to register that my name had just been called, because my name was first and usually the person staying in the area is read first. . . anyways, I stood up and met my companion Sister Amy Chirinos from Salem Oregon!  The only thing is she was being transferred from Dubuque. . . We sit down and then it finally dawns on me that we are pink washing the Walnut Hills West area. . . . hahaha so the little detail that the Assistant's forgot to mention was that we were pink washing. . . which is where the set of elders leaves and sisters take over the area.  But besides that I was so excited because I am back in Des Moines!!  Not only was I way excited to be coming back, but the office staff was really excited!  We rode back in the transfer van that Elder and Sister Shelley were driving, and as we were getting in Elder Shelley said "you know the only thing missing from Des Moines was Sister Call!"  

Since Thursday, life has been a little crazy trying to get adjusted and figure out what is happening in our area and trying to find homes.  We live in Grimes, Iowa, but do a lot of work in Urbandale which is a suburb of Des Moines and it has subdivision after subdivision of beautiful large homes.  It is funny because in some areas you feel like shopping at the good will and wearing frumpy clothes because you can and you don't stick out, but here you almost feel like you need to put on your best outfit just to walk on the sidewalk!  We are excited to be in the Walnut Hills ward. 

A tender mercy though is that one of the medical student families in the Des Moines ward now is in the Walnut Hills ward and a family that Sister Chirinos knew in the Perry branch is in our ward as well.  So we knew two families!  

We have been meeting different members and trying to get into contact with each of the investigators that the Elders had been working with, so it has been an adventure every day! We are so excited to be here and the ward is really excited to have sisters! 

I guess that Hayden Heap (a family friend that served in the Iowa Des Moines Mission) served in this exact ward.  It was fun because when one of the members heard I was from Star Valley, they came up and said that their favorite Elder was from Star Valley and that he grew up on a dairy farm and would tell his family that the mission was great because he got to sleep in until 6:30 every morning! 

Sorry I don't have any pictures with my new companion.  Will be better this next week!

I love you all and hope you have a wonderful week!

Love, Sister Call

You may have moved into an Elder's apartment if you find a jar full of dead crickets in the tank of the toilet. . .  joys of pink washing!