2-27-16

¿que pasan por sus venas?

we are really excited for the baptism of francisco tonight. it´ll be in a short two hours, so unfortunately i wont be able to send you pictures today. we were really grateful we took the advice of our leaders and decided to wait a week for his baptism. we loaded this week with visiting him with more ward members to get more acquainted with him. he is also going to be recieving the priesthood tomorrow, after his confirmation. he is such a good guy.

truly work works. my whole time ive been in the office we have been teaching francisco. i feel like ive written you guys 100s of times about him and his progress. there were times I was really discouraged about how it was going. but when we put in what work we can, we leave the rest to the lord and He knows how to do the miracle part. we owe it all to Him. I was especially humbled last sunday as he sat next to us and while we were singing a hymn, pulled out his tithing slip half filled out, but with all his money there. he humbly said, "I did the best I could. could you help me fill out the rest? I didnt understand..." and, "I´m ready to pay my tithing this week." he was able to give it personally to the bishop and I felt real joy seeing that. 

the work of the Lord is good. we see the fruits everyday. im emocionado por ser un obrero en Su viña. quiero hacer mis mejores esfuerzos. small and simple things everday. 

I have nothing more to report for the week. just that i played ping pong for the first time in half a year for pday. I got still got the swing, thanks to years of training in the Cox household. its also getting blazing hot here in trujillo. REALLY HOT.

ps. this week im going to huaraz for zone meeting so i dont think i will be writing this saturday, but rather on monday. see you then! love you all.

elder caldwell.

pictures:

ping pong tournament. champion.

one of the payasos in the office tried putting an egg in the microwave. blew up plate. it looked radioactive. but nea

2-20-16

Friends, fam,

sorry for last week and the no email vibe. we got a call from Salt lake saying that something malfunctioned in the system. so this week, Ill send you what I wrote last week to you all and a little of what I´ve felt this week. here:

email #1:

Hello,

There were many activities planned this week. We were surprised at how much we had to do

but I was grateful for the haul to keep me busy and my thoughts focused. We said goodbye

to the old ones and welcomed the new ones. I really loved this new group that came in,

all of them just really prepared to be on the mission, leaving us all really impressed and

excited for the future. 

Sadly because of all the excitement and trabajo we weren´t able to see much of our queridos,

but we tried and they are still faithful, especially Francisco. I might not be here when he gets

baptized in the future, but I have more faith that he will be more converted with time and he

can fully accept Christ and His path. 

After all the excitment ended, we had Leadership Council. I really really enjoyed this one,

more than others. It touched on so many parts I´ve needed to hear, and it was just done

so simply, like the teachings of Aaron or Ammon or our Savior. I learned a lot more about

repentance, clarifying it a lot to me. Being one, that we need to help our friends recognize

their sin, then help them to forsake it and be clean. Obviously we can´t force them to leave

their sins, that is up to their agency and that is what makes this Gospel beautiful, everyone

can choose. And those who do choose the right do have happy lives, but also that trials don´t

end. We are always evolving.

I´ve also been blessed to have great friends and example in the mission. We are recieving

so many news into the mission, and all of us old ones are kind of dying off. Seeing some

of the great heroes of my early days as a missionary go home is hard. But boy do they leave

legacies, following the footsteps of our Savior. Especially one Elder from Argentina who I admire,

who has been in some pretty hard areas in his mission but has looked at them so positively

that it is hard to be negative around him. In many ways he has been the Nephi amidst Laman

and Lemuel but has carried on. 

Well, those are some of my thoughts for this week. They are ticking by. We enjoyed this pday

a trip to the Huaca de la Luna. It´s an ancient temple from the Moche people before the time

of Christ. Some wild architecture and backstory. yeah.

Love you all.

Elder Caldwell

what I´ve done this week:

hi. This week was one where I could feel like I really worked hard and was satisfied. it is one of the best feelings, working hard. We travelled to that pueblo I talk about sometimes, called Chimbote. It stinks of fish, but we have some good missionaries there trying everyday. I admire that. We had a multi-zone and so we went down to help set-up and also sit down and listen to the counsel provided. Im really excited with the direction the mission is going and the teachings that flow from the Prophets and Apostles more. 

This week I learned some about my pride. Our dear great friend Francisco, after much teaching, is finally able to get baptized. He passed his baptismal interview, and I was happy as day. Sadly, I hadn´t planned as well as I should have with the ward council the week before on how we were going to do his baptism. I called the bishop of the ward after the successful interview and told him we were going to have his baptism today. He said no one would be able to go, because they had all planned to have another activity the week before. I was a little defeated, and after I talked to the bishop on how Francisco needs a lot more fellowship established in his life before he takes this step as well, I was able to swallow a little of my pride and say, alright. We will have the baptism next week. Thats where I realized (again), that why we work isnt for the number, its for the salvation of that soul. In all ways, Francisco and us are excited have his baptism next week with more fellowship, more communication, and overall a better spirit. Lessons are being learned.

I have especially been learning from talk of some of our older apostles, like James E. Faust and Bruce R. McConkie. they are spiritual giants. take a look at some of their talks. I love all the examples we have in this gospel, and the many more who aren´t so well noticed, but keep going every day choosing the right.

Love you all.

Elder Caldwell

pics:

one of francisco.

I gave one of my old suits to my friend, Elder Ramos today. he found his bling and he looked real hip. 

adventures in chimbote with the elders there.

2-6-16

folks,

what a wonferfully hard week. I learned a lot about following the spirit. I won´t go into details, but the scripture Moroni 7:13 really helped me. It says: But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do ^agood   continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and ^benticeth to do  ^cgood, and to love God, and to serve him, is ^dinspired of God.

the transfer has officially come to an end, and so we embark on another journey. we´ll see what comes next. We have a really cool area, called Santa Rosa. We have to travel a good 10 minutes to get out there everyday, and it is straight dirt and looks apocalyptic. We love the chamba. We ended up finding this family out there in the oasis, the Reyes family and found out the mother and grandmother of the fam are members, but son muy descarriados. I have found a lot of joy in teaching them, and Francisco. We have to teach so simply to understand, and with my complicated brain I tend to make things more complicated then they need to be. Then in one lesson while we were teaching Francisco (who is progressing great, has a new date for the 20th) about fasting, I realize how simple the gospel for the 170th time and it gives me so much hope. It is the perfect formula to live a happy life. It even says about fasting in Doctrine and Covenants: Verily, this is fasting and prayer, or in other words, rejoicing and prayer. Dc 59.14 

Tomorrow we will rejoice. 

Well, to sum up everything else, we worked more in the office, not much to note, but I do love serving. 

To end, and I know this email Ive done nothing but quote scriptures, but I want to quote a talk I read from Richard G. Scott. "Now I share an experience that taught me a way to gain spiritual        guidance. One Sunday I attended the priesthood meeting of a Spanish branch in Mexico City.I vividly recall how a humble Mexican priesthood leader struggled to communicate the truths of the gospel in his lesson material. I noted the intense desire he had to share those principles he strongly valued with his quorum members. He recognized that they were of great worth to the brethren present. In his manner, there was an evidence of a pure love of the Savior and love of those he taught.

His sincerity, purity of intent, and love permitted a spiritual strength to  envelop the room. I was deeply touched. Then I began to receive   personal impressions as an extension of the principles taught by that humble instructor. They were personal and related to my assignments in the area. They came in answer to my prolonged, prayerful efforts to learn."

 I would love to live as that brother who taught the class. Not to be perfect, but to have such a desire to get across those plain truths that you cannot help but feel that desire and his spirit. I would love to live everyday with such desire and spirit.

Elder Caldwell.

Pics: 

my stud new comp (on the right) baptized a family in his old area, we were privileged to go to the service.

finally to see a picture of Francisco. the man, the myth, the peruvian legend.

office farewell to a soldier, elder gibson.

1/30/16

Hi!

On the day after my birthday I would like to give all of you a gift; lots of pictures.

It´s been great! Thanks for all the pictures and letters everyone, love you lots! I´m feeling real old right now. But at the same time young because I still look like I´m 16. Haha. 

It´s also been a weird week. Hence wanderers in a strange land. Transfers are coming this week, and that means a lot of goodbies and more hello´s. Moving into the future. Everytime I see a new group of missionaries come in I think, "Hello little ones. you are the future!" 

I have come to love Perú a little more this week, and my mission President. I´m learning a little more to put more trust in the Lord. We have all issues, but we press on despite them. 

The mission president and his wife were really nice to buy me a cake and celebrate with the whole office, and it rained the whole day. What topped it all off was a visit to our friend Francisco. He is progressing! He wasn´t baptized this week, but I know it was for a purpose because Heavenly Father still needs to work on him. Just like He is constantly working on all us.

Moving on with some news; My companion is still training my new companion, Elder Alcázar so I have been out proselyting a lot with the other guys of the office, mainly the Assistants to the President. We had some awesome lessons and spent them with precious people. A woman we have been trying to help out for awhile now, Victoria, is an older woman with her family now grown, who has been inactive for 20 years. We are trying to rekindle her faith. She ended up telling us a lot of her story, and why she had lost her faith; because she stopped doing one thing, reading the book of mormon. She never knew it was true, and I find that has been and will be the fate of many members, inside and out of Perú. We claim to say the book is the keystone of our religion, and is the best translated scripture we have, but we just stop reading it. We bore our testimony to her, all 3 of us and it was powerful. She prayed at the end and poured her soul out to God. The spirit was thick that night. She came out with tears and she told us she would read every day. That was an amazing experience for me. 

Also, Francisco finally got back last night. We made an appointment with him and met him in the chapel. He is a lot tanner from working in the fields and has forgotten a little bit. But we are still loving him and hoping he comes around, being converted to the Lord. He commited to us that he would guard the dia de reposo. 

Well, I hope this email can mean stuff for you guys. I feel very grateful and undeserving of all of you, undeserving of all my blessings. Love ya!

"When we keep the commandments, our lives will be happier, more fulfilling, and less complicated." - Thomas S.

I love walking on the dirt roads, seeing trashfires and roofdogs.

Elder Caldwell

1-23-16

Friends, family,

Hey. So I got a new companion this week which I am very excited about. His name is Elder Alcázar and he is from Tijuana, Mexico! Baja California baby! My first mexican companion. I love it, I love being with someone so close to home (even though my last comp is from Arizona, haha). He is really quiet, but humble, and just kind of stares at me a lot (I´m pretty strange). He has taught me all the mexican slang and that makes me super excited to talk to all the mexican cooks at Waldo´s when I get back, haha. He has about a year in his mission so I´ve got a little bit more time than him and it will be fun to learn with him and to be his friend.

This week was great, I was able to teach a lot. I have come to really revere the bible videos the Church has come out with on biblevideos.org. We have the CD here in our apartment and I just love to watch Jesus teach. So pure, simple, powerful. Even though they´re actors, there is still a special spirit about it. President Packer taught once: "It is not untoward for us to aspire to teach like Him. It is not untoward for us to aspire to be like Him."

Francisco was unfortunately in Huamachuco all week so we didn´t get a chance to help him progress much for his date on the 30th, but I´ve been trying to be avid on calling him everynight making sure how he is doing. But while my old companion has been training Elder Alcázar on how to be a Secretary I´ve been able to go on work visits with my other Secretary friends, Elder Maldonando and Elder Ramos. We have been going out every night finding and teaching people. It is beautiful. A man we visited twice this week was a guy named Robinson. He is hilarious, has the most contagious laugh and I think he might have ADHD because he is all over the place. One minute picking up his guitar, one minute talking about how he just broke up with his girlfriend and how hard that was, to talking about the Book of Mormon. We are just really trying to help him read the Book of Mormon, and it has been a trial for me to learn how to teach better and get to the level where I can give the commitment to him to read everyday, and help him truly have the desire to do it. It´s hard work.

We also had the awesome pleasure of having the Worldwide Missionary Broadcast on the 20th. Some great general authorities gave training and spoke on the importance of "teaching repentance, and baptizing converts". I´ve been reflectioning a lot on that little line and how it captures what we need to be trying to do every day. Teaching, proclaiming the joys of repentance so the people can be truly converted and prepared for their baptism in the future. Elder Bednar especially gave a training that really struck me. 

Well I´m out here still growing and enjoying it. Love you all. Please have a good week por mi!

Elder Caldwell.

pics: 

As I said last week, Cynthia got baptized. It was one of the most flawless, spiritual baptisms I have attended. She is great. 

An american family from Arizona had lived in Peru for 3 years in the ward we are in right now. Theyre leaving today to go live back in Arizona! We are going to miss them.

A picture of some of the receipts I have to deal with. It doesnt look like a very big pile from this perspective, but you have no idea.

And the night with us and Robinson. 

(sorry no picture of my new comp just yet)

1-16-16

Heyo,

Another week, they keep going real fast. 

I like this quote: “Never assume that you can make it alone. You need the help of the Lord. Never hesitate to get on your knees in some private place and speak with Him.”

—Gordon B. Hinckley,

I printed it out and handed it to my district here in the office to put up by their desk. I don´t know much about others, but when hard things come along, be it spiritual, physical, mental, I tend to put the Lord and the basic principles on the back-burner and just try to figure it out by myself. I can´t do that anymore. Another lesson learned here in the mission, #374. 

I have found myself trying to put God first more in my life, and I don´t know why I haven´t tried it before. Like Dieter F. Uchtdorf says, "It works wonderfully!". 

We keep chugging along, learning lessons along the way here. I realize all my life will be like this. Keep going, learning, fighting trials, holding on to the gospel to get me through. Woo!

We were able to catch Francisco twice this week (Thanks for your guys´prayers) and to teach him very important commandments of God. I loved to see how willing he was to accept the commandments of the Word of Wisdom, Chastity, and among others. He is up in Huamachucho now working but I pray he remembers to read his scriptures and remember the lessons we taught him. More than anything, I remember the lessons he has taught us. Tonight we have the gran gusto to go to the baptism of Cynthia, my how fast she progressed in just 3 weeks. She came in this week and told us she had fasted and had gotten her concrete answer that this is for her and that she will get baptized today. Excited for you guys to see her next week when I send pictures, and also of Francisco.

Today for Pday we had the opportunity to also cook and eat with our good taxi/chauffer friend Joel. He has been one of my best friends in the office, and although doesn´t share the same beliefs as us, invited us into his house to learn to cook Arroz Chaufa with him and his family. They are amazing. At the table eating, I don´t know how much the subject of Joseph Smith got put on. And so we shared what we believed Joseph Smith did and he was pretty struck (in a good way). I hope that is an opportunity for the gospel to go into his life, if not shared by us than by other good missionaries in the future. 

Well, I love you all. January is already passing us by. Recuerdan a poner Dios en el primer plano. Les amo.

-Elder Caldwell.