Here's some belated photos.  1st photo;Lani with Sister McMaster, then with Sister Carpenter (from our home ward, then the Powers family (ward mission leader in Lincoln), finally James Brown's Baptism with Sister Moore (in blue) and Sister Jasper (her trainer.)  WE LOVE OUR MISSIONARY!!!

Week 31 letter

Hello Family,

I forgot to tell you. I met Joyce walker the other week. She was getting ready for her great grandsons baptism and I got talking to her. She lives in California and went to see Grandpa Walker when he was over there. She is Garths sister. :) Also, we have a bishop walker here in Bellevue second ward, the ward right after us. He is her grandson. :) We are related! And he reminds me of it all the time! Joyce knew you dad! She looked at me and asked, are you Michaels daughter?? I was like...!!!YES!!! Her other son was there, bishop walkers son, and he said that he grew up with Terry and would hang out with Terry and Lynn all the time! Crazy connection! I wanted to let you know. :)

She was the sweetest old lady. :) Love her!

This week had been a growing experience. We have had to drop one of our investigators and then another of our investigators dropped us two nights ago. It was sad. But I know miracles follow the hard times as long as we are faithful and obedient and work our tails off!!

I have been thinking a lot about humility and having a softened heart. Sister McMaster and I have really been working on letting each other help each other...does that make sense? One thing about missions, you learn a lot about yourself. I have learned that I am a control psycho and I don't like people to help me through my own emotional problems that I just need to get over on my own. :) :) Not that any of you didn't know that. :) Heavenly Father has been helping me realize that and has been teaching me a lot about the atonement in personal study this week. We went to a inactive members home the other night. We haven't been able to get in for a while. She was sitting on the coach and we started talking to her. Eventually she opened up when again we asked, do you believe Heavenly Father loves you and will bless you? Anyway, she started talking and crying and kept saying, "this is something I just need to get over. This is something I need to figure out..." listening to her, I was amazed and frightened of how much she reminded me of myself this past week. I found myself bearing testimony to her and no matter how hard she tries, she cannot do this alone...she cannot fix her problems on her own. There is just no way. That is why we have Jesus Christ. We shared these scriptures with her.... Alma 34:38-41

38 That ye ^acontend no more against the Holy Ghost, but that ye receive it, and take upon you the ^bname of Christ; that ye humble yourselves even to the dust, and ^cworship God, in whatsoever place ye may be in, in spirit and in truth; and that ye live in ^dthanksgiving daily, for the many ^emercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon you.

 39 Yea, and I also ^aexhort you, my brethren, that ye be ^bwatchful unto prayer continually, that ye may not be led away by the ^ctemptations of the devil, that he may not overpower you, that ye may not become his subjects at the last day; for behold, he rewardeth you ^dno good thing.

 40 And now my beloved brethren, I would exhort you to have ^apatience, and that ye bear with all manner of ^bafflictions; that ye do not ^crevile against those who do cast you out because of your ^dexceeding poverty, lest ye become sinners like unto them;

 41 But that ye have ^apatience, and bear with those ^bafflictions, with a firm hope that ye shall one day rest from all your afflictions.

Do we contend with the Holy Ghost ever? When was the last time we wrestled before God?

Sister McMaster and I sat in the car the other day and she asked me to pray. I fought it for a while because I had built up such strong emotions but eventually I sat there and prayed and prayed. I haven't plead with my Heavenly Father like that for a while. I know that it wasn't until I humbled myself to the dust that I could feel my weight lifted. This is what we told Sister Peveler. We must humble ourselves and ask for help. So simple, but it can be so hard.

There is incredible power in prayer. I prayed until I bawled and felt the spirit. I prayed until I could feel my heart softened. I prayed when I didn't want to. Pray when you don't want to. Pray hard. President Weston told us that if we do not feel opposition while we are praying, we aren't praying hard enough.

I love you all and am so grateful for prayer. I am so grateful for the atonement. I am so grateful for the incredible people here in Nebraska!! I am so grateful for my strong companion, sister McMaster. She is so patient with me. I am grateful for my Heavenly Father. I am grateful for Jesus Christ. I am so grateful for the Book of Mormon. I am grateful for Nephi!!! (I have been studying in 1 nephi). I am grateful for my family! I am grateful for....

Mom, Dad, Sarah, Jason, (NEW BABY), Priscilla, Ford, Ruth, Talitha, Abby, Hyrum and Joseph!

Best family ever.

I hope you have an incredible Thanksgiving!!

Love you all dearly!

Love,
Sister Call

Week 30 letter

Hello Everyone!

Sorry we didn't get to email last week. :)

Wow! We have gone on 4 exchanges in the past 2 weeks. That may not seem like a lot, but it sure wipes us out! :) We love it though. We love the sisters we are over. It is amazing to feel how much Heavenly Father loves them and wants them to be happy.

This past week we had an interesting experience with one of our members. They are an extremely active family in our ward and we really admire them. We sat down with a couple, the children were in bed, and we proceeded to have a lesson following up with their family mission plan. The sister shared that she was to focus on she and her husband. We told her that was great! because we must take care and nourish our own testimonies before we can expect to lift others. We then asked the sister if she believes that Heavenly Father loves her. Their was a pause as she became very emotional and expressed doubts that God even exists. She seemed embarrassed to tell us. Sister McMaster and I just listened. We told her that we love her. We told her that Heavenly Father loves her and as she studies and prays, she will feel Heavenly Father's love for her. We then told her that we do not think any less of her. She is still one of my heroes.

We walked away from their home with eyes wide open. You never know who is struggling. You never know what battles are taking place is someones mind and heart. Only God knows.

I was reminded of that saying that "greater men than you have fallen." This is so true. "Woe to those that are at ease is Zion." No one is safe. I am so grateful for this incredible sister who is facing her doubts and getting back on the path. She is using the atonement! :)

I know there is a God. I know that He is our Heavenly Father who loves us. Our testimonies are as  elusive as a moon beam. Take care of them. Work for them, then nourish them. They are our most powerful tool against the adversary.

I love you all dearly! Have an incredible week!

Love,

Sister Call

Week 28 letter

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM AND SARAH!! I hope you both have incredible birthdays!! I will be thinking of you!

This week has been crazy! As usual. :)

We had zone conference this week and it was incredible. Sister McMaster and I did a training on how to work with members....it was interesting. I couldn't eat the lunch they provided for us because I was SO nervous. Poor sister McMaster. She didn't know what to do with herself. :) Haha! Have any of your watched the district? You can find it on lds.org and I would invite you to look it up and watch some of it.

The day after zone conference, we went to the temple. Spiritual overload! We are SO BLESSED! (some call is spoiled) to have a temple in our mission.I was sitting in the temple and had the thought that this is how it was become we came to earth. We were all sitting together, dressed in white, being trained!! :) The temple is so crucial in our earthly success stories.

BEST NEWS EVER! So a sister in the mission, Sister Seguin, called my friend Stephen Bueadrou (cant spell his name). ANYWAY! The sisters at the trail center call people and try to teach them the gospel. WELL! She called my friend Stephen and GUESS WHAT!! He is reading the Book of Mormon, he prayed on the phone with her, asked her to teach him until other missionaries can come and teach him!! AHHHH! When i heard this, I was beyond excited!! I thought, this is how it feels like when a good friend becomes interested in the church and starts taking the missionary lessons!! It is a feeling I want to have ALL THE TIME!! Wouldn't it be incredible to have a family take the lessons in our home!? Just a thought :) You are doing so well with your missionary efforts!! That is awesome that so many people came to the trunk r treat! Congrats! I am sure that felt incredible seeing that miracle!

Sister McMaster and I are having a blast together, as usual. How I love this sister!

One of our recent converts, James Brown, invited us to his home last night with his daughter, Angie. She has started reading the Book of Mormon! Last night we invited her to start taking the lessons, and we are pretty sure she will! So exciting to see how people are always connected to others who are prepared to receive the gospel.

I hope you are all doing well, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM AND SARAH!! I love you all and pray you will experience the joy of missionary work as you share what you know to be true.
Have a great week!
Love,
Sister Call