Monday‎, ‎November‎ ‎17‎, ‎2014 ‎9‎:‎39‎ ‎AM

Aloha,

jokes about the title. I have to shave all the time. It’s been a good week of finding! So many people were gone this week in their chacras or in Trujillo , so we didn’t have the opportunity to teach many people, but instead we were blessed to find 5 more investigators,  and they were all random! Just walking down the street we were stopped so many times by random people inquiring about the church, and we’re going to teach them this week! We also found a golden family who doesn’t know much about our church, which means a fresh slate to teach on. Overall very excited, a lot of good people were found with good intentions.

                

Tomas, our main investigator right now is commited to be baptized this Saturday, he’s been coming to church and is progressing good . we’re a little apprehensive because he’s flaked out on baptism before, but we got faith. Haha cross your fingers. He really wants to be baptized in one of the rivers here, I hope it comes to pass because that would be a flipping dream come true for me.

                

This was one of the best weeks yet now that I look at it, we found tons of peeps, it rained a bunch, and to top it off this Saturday we had a little campfire and our backyard and made smores as a district . it was super sweet and I recommend smores this time of year. And guinea pig they love guinea pig here. Haha love you all so much and ill talk to you next week. Crossing my fingers some of pics load for once in my life!!! also mom I found and bought a charger for my camera so dont worry about that anymore! booyah son

Love,

 Elder Caldwell

November 10, 2014

From: James Caldwell <caldwell.james@myldsmail.net>
To: jmcaldwell22@yahoo.com
Sent: Monday, November 10, 2014 9:36 AM
Subject: Lord of the Rings

Howdy howdy, (mom could you forward this to all my regular people I
email, the internet here wont let me)

Super happy with how this week went! A lot happened, Elder Copa and I
took a trip down to Trujillo and partook in a little meeting where I
got to see my district from the CCM again and hear a powerful lesson
from President Marler about our vision of our areas! We have a new
vision for Otuzco now and a lot is happening already!
   
We are teaching more investigators and scouting out more recent
converts and teaching them, and we already have a man named Tomas who
wants to be baptized! He’s a sweet dude, he has a sincere want to
learn more about the gospel. He wears a sombrero too which is a plus
haha! He came to al 3 hours of church yesterday and loved it, I’m
super excited to have someone progressing.
   
We also travelled 4 hours up into the mountains to an area called
Huamachuco for Zone Conference, which was also about our vision. On
the way back to Otuzco our bus broke down 6 times haha, but the
scenery was insanely beautiful, it was like Lord of the Rings and
Walter Mitty combined. I was so happy to break down and just look at
all the greenery and llamas frolicking in the mountainside, it was a
dream come true.
I’ll let you all know how Tomas is next week and if we have any other
focuses! I am very thankful for you all and hope some of my pics go
through, yall haven’t seen me for almost 3 months! Haha.

Con amor,
Elder Caldwell

Monday, October 27, 2014 9:38 AM

Subject: October Sky

Hi fam and friends!

 

Super sorry for my terrible email last week!

               

The situation persists with the members here, and we have thrown out all other plans and are trying new stuff to get the members more converted. We have been trying to follow Ammons example of pure service and love like with King Lamoni. We did 3 service projects this week and are basically sharing simple messages of love. We’re total hippies out here because we’re all about love, it’s great haha! We are making a lot of progress here and 53 peeps showed up to church! but its not about numbers!

               

A huge blessing this week was visiting Manuel and Raquel, less actives because they live so far up one of the mountains that they have a hard time getting motivated. It was a dream, we hiked up at dusk and visited outside for awhile marveling at the landscape, and then inside their mudbrick house by candlelight. The higher up you go here, the more basic the lives. I’ve had the unfortunate chance of seeing a few of the folk here pooping on the side of a hill by their property hahah! But anyways, they are also super spiritual and poor in heart. I’ve never heard more carefully thought out spiritual prayers. I’ve learned a lot about humility from them.

              

  I’m officially 2 months out now! Love otuzco, it is so bizarre to think of 2 months ago and how much has changed. I love it!

                

The other day we got bible bashed from this woman and I’m super grateful that I got probably one of the most well versed latino companions out here, he spat out some real doctrine like a boss christlike person and we went on our merry way.

               

Everyone here has a motorcycle and I get so jealous haha, seeing them drive around the mountains and what not. Truly gnarly peeps here.

               

Well, I love you all and think about you often. Everything here is good besides the sketch food a veces.

Peeeeeeeeeace,

Elder Chase Caldwell.

Date: Nov 3, 2014 10:11 AM

Love you always dad, I always try to send you an email but the time
and internet doesnt allow me sometimes! I love you and love the
pictures and think of our times together alot as good times. dan looks
great at the temple how is he?  also, could you tell your kids to send
me pictures of their families so I can print them offand show them to
the members here, they love pictures and stories about family. Ilove
you and hope youre doing good, please forward this part of the message
to all the family, I dont think Ill be able to send out a mass one
today:

Hello fellow gringos,
        What a week! Our main style of conversion this week is on Sunday
coming to people’s houses, waking them up, handing them some white
shirts and telling them to come to church. Haha we actually did that
for one family this week , and they didn’t even care. only in Peru.
        Testimony meeting and fast Sunday was a powerful one yesterday. Ive
been worried about our branch here and the strength of testimony and
conversion but it was put greatly to rest after listening to some of
the testimonies here. It strengthened my own in the fact that the
gospel touches hearts all over the world in different languages but
yet the same morals and standards are held, it’s a beautiful thing.
        On the side ive been teaching my companion and a few little kids here
English. You have no idea how many times I’ve been called gringo here
haha atleast 50 times no joke. I’ve almost fought a few people but
that’s all in a days work. Hahah kidding.
        Our main focuses right now is a woman named Norma, who is a little
timid but has a strong testimony. We’re trying to break her out of her
shell a little and be a little more open and active. And the other is
the family of manuel and Raquel,  who … didn’t come to church this
week but we’re working on it! They have a very difficult time and work
in the chacras, or fields, all day, and have little money. It’s always
a challenge here because everyone works in the chacras andare so tired
or don’t have any time for us.
        I’m super pumped about the future here though and progress is slowly
happening with everything.
        We’re going to be travelling up to an area higher up in the mountains
this week called Huamachuco for Zone conf. so next week I’ll have tons
of spiritual experiences and adventures to talk about next week.
        I love you all mucho, am learning a TON, and hope I can be better. I
pray for you all and hope some of these pictures load so I can send
em! Bye.
Elder Chase Caldwell

Mon, Oct 13, 2014 at 9:43 AM

HELLO MUNDO! I love you all.

 

This is going to be a long one! It's been a crazy ride these two weeks. I departed from the CCM super early on tuesday and hopped on a plane to Trujillo! When we got there I swore I was on Tattooine! haha. just straight desert. Immediately we got picked up by our Mission Pres. and his wife, some of the nicest people I have ever met. Pres.Marler sounds like D. Todd Christofferson haha! such a cool guy. So kind.

 

Orientation happened, and word was going around that one of the new elders was going to be sent to the mountains, in Otuzco Peru! Annnnd it was me haha. I serve in my legit personal dream. A quaint town amidst giant foggy peruvian mountains, llamas, donkeys, farmland, and the nicest, most rugged, hardworking people I have ever seen. My companion is from Bolivia and is a stereotypical latino dude haha. Elder Copa drinks solely inca kola and wears chullo beanies. I couldnt have asked for better circumstances!! Hopefully my pictures from the CCM and out here in Otuzco explain a little of my experience thus far. Look up Otuzco in google maps, its sick!

 

Elder Copa andI live with Elder Tirado, the flipping man, and Elder Spencer Jackson from Mesa AZ BABY! Everywhere I go I find someone from az, its a tendermercy for sure.

 

We have immediately been put to work of course, and its been hard, but the spirit and the love I feel from God is amazing. Never before have I felt so close to heavenly father and seen his blessings in my life. Otuzco is unusual, the members are extremely weak. 200 here are baptized but only 30 come to church, so we primarily try to convert the members and leaders, so if we do baptize in the future, the converts can have better support. I love doing this type of work though, and the ability to share my testimony on how the gospel has strenghtened me! If any of you have suggestions on how to help these members and leaders please tell!! like experiences or scriptures, we will try anything.

 

General conference was amazing, with huge emphasis on prophets, Christ, testimony, and the sacrament, and also personal revelation! This conference legit made me cry several times, never before have I appreciated it so much. savor the words of the prophets,especially inenglish. haha!

 

AND ALSO, Elder Mason Passey found me!!! I love that guy and it was good to visit for a few minutes before he ran off to do work. Hopefully we can be comps in the future.

 

You are all so great and I hope life is for you too! If you want an image on how the people look and act here, remember the scene in Nacho Libre where he goes and visits the elderly couple, where the old latino dude is supposedly dead! I love these people haha, they make me laugh so much.

 

Mucho amor,

 

Elder Caldwell.

 

Mosiah 15.15 through 18 is our zone motto here in the mountains!

 

Ill send pictures in a different email!

Oct 7, 2014 11:36 AM

Hey Mom! and Dad!

Love you so very much. Been thinking about you a lot and all of the nice things you have done for me. I was a crazy kid and I regret not showing my appreciation for you more. Love you so much, life is good.

I just got off the plane and am in Trujillo now with my mission president! Him and his wife are one of the nicest people I have ever met, don't ever worry about me. It's all a real big family here and they aren't grumpy and have so much compassion for us. You should check out the mission blog Mission Trujillo that sister marler has created, it'll have pictures of me soon! and I will be able to send all the pictures I have to you guys next monday, which will be my pday for the rest of the mission. 

Mom, you should meet up with one of my good friends moms, Elder Connelly. Her name is Elizabeth Connelly and lives in GIlbert! you should meet up with her sometime and have lunch or something, and talk about your sons in Trujillo or something!! her number is 520-331-0603 shoot her a text or something! 

It's been a good day and I'm a little nervous to meet my trainer! I hope he speaks a little english. 

I also saw ELDER PASSEY!!! He came and saw me right after I got off a bus and it was so refreshing to see another friend from AZ. He's been out a year and is a veteran! I'll talk to you guys more next monday, please be safe and pray for me! I pray for you every night.

LOVE YOU MOM, and LOVE YOU DAD. 

Elder Caldwell.

Thu, Oct 2, 2014 at 12:12 PM

¡buenas tardes!

 

I've been out a month and a couple days now, and I hit the field this Tuesday! This month here in the Peru MTC has been one of the hardest learning experiences of my life. But it's been so so good. filled with laughter, #thestruggle (thats for you hudson), the spirit, teaching, and meeting all forms of life haha. I've loved it. Every night I reminisce about the good old times in Mesa, AZ feeling like I've been out a year haha. Don't worry though I'm not homesick, just remembering the good times. I'm going to miss the MTC and my district homies, it been like a six week efy program out here x10

 

This week I've learned so much about Christ and his life and the importance of being Christlike. It is a life long pursuit to be like Christ and I can only hope to be a fraction of how kind and humble Christ was. Preach My Gospel chapter 7 about christlike attributes is genial! I encourage everyone to read that section. (hopefully its chap. 7) haha. I have developed such a love for everything and everyone here that I have never experienced because I look at everything in a different perspective. It's been great.

 

Spanish is still coming little by little, and I hope I can be a good jr comp soon! we teach maybe 14 times a week, yesterday I taught four times and being able to see the progress from being a little guy here is loooocoooooooooooooo. We heard a talk by a general authority this week and one thing he said was to write our families and ask them to pray for us to have the gift of tongues! I'm not saying you should pray for me, but atleast pray for others you know in foreign countries because that stuff is real life. (mom please pray for me) (and dad.) (miss you guys.)

 

I flipping love Elder Frost! him and all our roommates talk forever at night and just laugh, it's so refreshing. Yesterday I got up to go to the bathroom at night and as I was going in this Peruvian Elder came out fully clad, with a scarf over his mouth and nose, a beanie, a jacket, sweats, mittens and socks. you could only see his eyes, haha he looked like a straight up alien and I was laughing for eternity. its hot here I dont know what he was doing. I love the natives.

 

I won't be able to write for 2 weeks because I'm going to be missing pday when I finally get out to Trujillo so next email will be full of pictures!

 

con amor,

 

Élder Caldwell