7-11-16

Hello!

 I am here enjoying the Viru weather. Soak it in!

This week I experienced a "wake up call" in district meeting on Tuesday.

Sometimes the things I dont like as a missionary are the numbers

and the cuotas and the goals we have to meet. But, sometimes thats

how things roll. We were talking about them on Tuesday and I was just

thinking of how I could better minister to the people here in Viru and I 

was pulling blanks. We had a practice of knocking on someones door and

the Elder who mimicked a typical dad who works a lot and makes little 

money impacted me.

Not sure why Im sharing this whole story, but trying to talk to this fake dad

and trying to enter into his house really showed me that I need to be bold,

that I really need to believe that I represent the Savior, but most of all I need

to be peoples friend. I cant be a robot and I need to be in the moment and talk

to the person like he is real. Sometimes we get into missionary mode and cant

really get out of it, we say the same phrases and expect different results.

but, I was glad for that experience. It woke me up as I sat there thinking how 

precious this time I have left, and how much time maybe I feel like I have blown

in this service. I need to go out and work and keep getting better. 

Elder Gavidia and I left that day fueled with determination and the spirit.

That day was maybe the only day I feel like I can say I talked with literally

everyone we could, and I really put my heart into it. I loved that day and am 

trying to make every other day be like that one. time to wake up. 

My message is short but I love you all. I read a scripture today that really

drove home: 9 "And I do this that I may prove unto many that I am thesame yesterday, today, and forever; and that I speak forth my words according to mine own pleasure. And   because that I have spoken one word ye need not suppose that I cannot speak another; for my work is not yet finished; neither shall it be until the end of man,   neither from that time henceforth and forever." 

Gods work will never end, it will never finish. He will always love us and will

work for us, even when we think we are done. He will give us an infinite 

amount of opportunities to try and be better. Christs Atonement is not

a limited time offer, it is for forever.

Love you.

Elder Caldwell

pics:

we were true americans last pday. even being in peru for 2 years cant beat

the america spirit. hahaha. we drank coke on our balcony and talked about life.