On this week's episode of Sister Cale in Columbus-the sisters had an
awkward split p-day, went to the temple TWICE, the sisters finished
their quilts (and it was awesome because they decidedly looked like
each of their personalities), the humidity was just a treat and a half
of swimming through the air, the missionaries made a music video after
District Meeting, Sister Kelly made the sisters kadi and piratha
(authentic Indian food), Jessica made them yukanomi again and it was
really quite hot.
Hey Guys,
So I really kind of forgot that I needed to write this e-mail. We've
just had a really leisurely p-day with browsing at Target and the like
and when I got back I spaced for at least an hour that I had not yet
written about my week. Oops. Hey, I remembered.
The obvious highlight from this past week is getting to go to the
temple two days in a row this week. On Thursday we were able to attend
the temple with our zone and with President and Sister Daines.
President had asked us to come fasting to seek how we can better teach
repentance and baptize more converts. He said something that I loved
as we met before going into the temple. He said that we should be
careful not to limit God on the answer he could give us. He said that
we might get answers that very obviously connected with our questions,
but we also might get answers that seemed to have little or nothing to
do with what we had asked. I realized that I am often quite guilty of
dismissing God's answers because they don't seem to fit with my
personal expectations. So I'm going to do so much better at that.
As always being in the temple was amazing. Nothing compares with the
quiet peace that I feel in the temple. It was so interesting after the
session to see all the missionaries sitting in the Celestial Room
seeking further direction from God. None of us wanted to leave. We
were all soaking in heaven's light. It was glorious.
The next day we were able to go to the temple with James for his first
time doing baptisms for the dead. Our bishop's wife has her degree in
family history so she was able to help James find not only one name to
take to the temple, but an entire family. It was so cool to be able to
participate at the temple with James and the other members who had
come. On the way home we got to talk to Sister Birch which is always
the best thing in the world. I swear, we always learn new things when
we are with her. I'm so grateful for the examples of Holy Women that I
have met across the course of my mission.
This week was one of humidity and quite a bit of rejection. I've been
doing everything in my power to have charity for all of those that we
come into contact with. Charity is so much work! Loving as the Savior
would is not easy, nor is it instinctive, but it definitely has
changed me as I have done my best to see everyone as Christ would. It
is so easy to remain aloof and unsurprised when people shut their
doors as soon as they see your name tag, but I've realized that
removing myself like that interferes with my ability to love. I have
to let things hurt, because the message of the restoration of the
gospel of Jesus Christ matters that much for every person that answers
a door or doesn't. They obviously don't know how much it matters, but
I do, so I will feel that loss for them if that is what they choose.
It is amazing to me that the Savior is always waiting for us. He was
all in, is all in, and will always be all in. No matter where we are
he waits with a sincere anticipation that this is the moment that we
are going to further commit ourselves to being like him. What a
miracle it is to be able to represent my older brother and invite
others to experience for themselves the ways that the gospel can bring
additional light and clarity to their lives.
The church is true, life is good, God's in charge, and Satan hates you.
Love,
Jessica
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
The Week I Stayed
On this week's episode of Sister Cale in Columbus-Sister Cale got to
stay in Westerville for her final transfer, the Ohio summer skies were
on point, the Sisters decided to sew quilts at My Very Own Blanket,
the ward was very pleased that we both stayed, Sister Cale was
reminded of the power of positive psychology, the Sisters went to
brunch with Sister Young (go to First Watch it is a magical place),
Jessica made us delicious authentic Japanese food (yakanomi-cabbage
pancakes with bacon), the weather was beautiful, a pentascostal woman
stopped us in a parking lot and tried to save us, and My Plan was a
life saver.
Hello Loves!
What a beautiful week it has been! We have a sort of interesting week
this upcoming week. On Thursday we have a training and a visit to the
temple, so our preparation day time is split between Monday and
Thursday. But let's talk about this past week and the goodness
therein.
One of the things that I am most excited about this transfer is the
goal that Sister Bohner and I have set to not let our lack of faith be
the thing that keeps us from finding those who are being prepared to
receive the gospel at this time. We realized that we had allowed the
fact that we are so frequently greeted at doors with immediate
requests for us to leave or announcements of lack of interests before
we have even said hello that we had allowed that to become the
expectation. Instead we have decided to act with faith, knowing that
there are people in all parts of the area that we have been given
stewardship of for another transfer who are waiting for us to arrive
and share more. Though we have really only had two days to put this
awareness into prayers and action, it has decidedly made a difference
in us. I know that I feel a greater level of commitment to love
fearlessly and continue inviting in the least likely of circumstances.
We had so many interesting experiences this week as we sought to find
those who were in need of the gospel and the understanding that the
Atonement is meant to change our lives. One such experience was with a
man named John. We were out knocking Saturday morning, and though it
wasn't blazing hot yet, the sun was decidedly present. When we knocked
on John's door he seemed surprised, but somehow excited to see us. He
had met with missionaries many years ago when he was younger, but then
had stepped away from religion and a belief in God altogether. We
talked to him for over an hour as we answered his questions about how
we gained our personal testimonies and why we feel we are committed to
living the gospel. I was so grateful for every experience that I have
ever had that pressed me to find out for myself that I wanted to live
within the bounds of the gospel so when he asked why I could say that
I had received a witness for myself that it was what God wanted me to
do. Our personal conversion to the gospel is so incredibly important
for how effectively we can help others to recognize the need to have
one themselves. Before we left John he said the first prayer that he
had prayed in over fourteen years. He told us that he felt a warmth
with us and that his defenses had not been up like they normally would
have if anyone else had come to his door to talk about religion.
Sometimes you know that God sent you to reach out to one of his
children. This was definitely one of those interactions. Another
remarkable experience we had was as we decided to knock one last door
before heading back to our car so we could get to a scheduled lesson.
Hawa invited us in immediately and told us that she had met
missionaries in Sierra Leone before she moved to the United States.
She was so open to learning more and finding the truth for herself.
She even asked if her sister could come to our next lesson. There are
people and moments from my mission that I will carry with me for the
rest of my life. These are just two.
James blessed the sacrament today and I got another tiny glimpse of
what it must feel like to be a parent whose child is doing the right
things. We walked into the chapel and didn't see him anywhere, and
when we sat down he was sitting on the stand. It was awesome! As
missionaries we have our fair share of experiences that are shadows of
children choosing contrary to the commandments, and those pains and
aches are unlike anything that I have ever experienced. How grateful I
am for opposition and the joy that counteracts those moments of
sorrow. When God's children do what is right the joy replaces the
sorrow with divine light.
The church is true, life is good, God's in charge, and Satan hates you.
Love,
Jessica
stay in Westerville for her final transfer, the Ohio summer skies were
on point, the Sisters decided to sew quilts at My Very Own Blanket,
the ward was very pleased that we both stayed, Sister Cale was
reminded of the power of positive psychology, the Sisters went to
brunch with Sister Young (go to First Watch it is a magical place),
Jessica made us delicious authentic Japanese food (yakanomi-cabbage
pancakes with bacon), the weather was beautiful, a pentascostal woman
stopped us in a parking lot and tried to save us, and My Plan was a
life saver.
Hello Loves!
What a beautiful week it has been! We have a sort of interesting week
this upcoming week. On Thursday we have a training and a visit to the
temple, so our preparation day time is split between Monday and
Thursday. But let's talk about this past week and the goodness
therein.
One of the things that I am most excited about this transfer is the
goal that Sister Bohner and I have set to not let our lack of faith be
the thing that keeps us from finding those who are being prepared to
receive the gospel at this time. We realized that we had allowed the
fact that we are so frequently greeted at doors with immediate
requests for us to leave or announcements of lack of interests before
we have even said hello that we had allowed that to become the
expectation. Instead we have decided to act with faith, knowing that
there are people in all parts of the area that we have been given
stewardship of for another transfer who are waiting for us to arrive
and share more. Though we have really only had two days to put this
awareness into prayers and action, it has decidedly made a difference
in us. I know that I feel a greater level of commitment to love
fearlessly and continue inviting in the least likely of circumstances.
We had so many interesting experiences this week as we sought to find
those who were in need of the gospel and the understanding that the
Atonement is meant to change our lives. One such experience was with a
man named John. We were out knocking Saturday morning, and though it
wasn't blazing hot yet, the sun was decidedly present. When we knocked
on John's door he seemed surprised, but somehow excited to see us. He
had met with missionaries many years ago when he was younger, but then
had stepped away from religion and a belief in God altogether. We
talked to him for over an hour as we answered his questions about how
we gained our personal testimonies and why we feel we are committed to
living the gospel. I was so grateful for every experience that I have
ever had that pressed me to find out for myself that I wanted to live
within the bounds of the gospel so when he asked why I could say that
I had received a witness for myself that it was what God wanted me to
do. Our personal conversion to the gospel is so incredibly important
for how effectively we can help others to recognize the need to have
one themselves. Before we left John he said the first prayer that he
had prayed in over fourteen years. He told us that he felt a warmth
with us and that his defenses had not been up like they normally would
have if anyone else had come to his door to talk about religion.
Sometimes you know that God sent you to reach out to one of his
children. This was definitely one of those interactions. Another
remarkable experience we had was as we decided to knock one last door
before heading back to our car so we could get to a scheduled lesson.
Hawa invited us in immediately and told us that she had met
missionaries in Sierra Leone before she moved to the United States.
She was so open to learning more and finding the truth for herself.
She even asked if her sister could come to our next lesson. There are
people and moments from my mission that I will carry with me for the
rest of my life. These are just two.
James blessed the sacrament today and I got another tiny glimpse of
what it must feel like to be a parent whose child is doing the right
things. We walked into the chapel and didn't see him anywhere, and
when we sat down he was sitting on the stand. It was awesome! As
missionaries we have our fair share of experiences that are shadows of
children choosing contrary to the commandments, and those pains and
aches are unlike anything that I have ever experienced. How grateful I
am for opposition and the joy that counteracts those moments of
sorrow. When God's children do what is right the joy replaces the
sorrow with divine light.
The church is true, life is good, God's in charge, and Satan hates you.
Love,
Jessica
Sunday, June 19, 2016
The Week of The Final Unknown Transfer
On this week's episode of Sister Cale in Columbus-Sister Cale was
given access to My Plan (a program for missionaries who will soon be
returning home to plan their lives), the Sisters finished their mural
at My Very Own Blanket, our mini missionary was a rockstar, the
sisters worked a lot down where the humble people are, the sisters
loved a week of cooler weather and died when the heat returned, the
Sisters ate Thai Food at Thai Grille (try the beef curry with the
sweet potatoes, cashews, and avocado), the Sisters went to Schneider's
bakery and tried the Westerville Famous donuts (they were that good),
Sister Cale hit her seventeen month mark, there was a district
meeting, a mini-zone conference, and so much other goodness.
Hello Dearest Ones!
We have had such a beautiful week and a half. I think it's amazing to
see what God has made possible for us as we have done everything we
could to bring about good in the life of his children. I feel like I
have been learning so many different things lately (maybe the spirit
feels like it's crunch time too?).
Something I have grown to love so much as a missionary is seeing the
spirit take over in a lesson and do the work of the Lord while we
occasionally contribute words so the investigator can be taught what
God wants them to know. We were blessed to teach two lessons like that
in this past week. Michael's lesson was the Restoration and it was
amazing to see him soak up all the different key points, and then at
the end of the lesson Sister Bohner asked him what he had felt during
the lesson. He then proceeded to bear his testimony of the Book of
Mormon and how it would bless him as he strives to change his life.
Our other lesson of such spiritual impact was with a girl named
Brittany. From the first time we contacted her we could feel God's
love for her and his desire to help her know of that love and feel his
support. As we testified that God loves her and that she is his
daughter, the spirit wrapped around us as we sat in the parking lot. I
know that God can accomplish his work everywhere, even in parking lots
on the rougher side of town.
So today is the preparation day before transfers, and we don't yet
have news on what is happening or if anything is happening. It feels
wholly and entirely surreal that this is the last transfer that will
happen that I won't know exactly what is coming next. To say that I no
longer understand the passage of time is an understatement. But I'm
excited for whatever adventure comes my way next whether nothing
changes or everything changes, I know that God knows what he's doing,
because there hasn't been a transfer that he got it wrong my whole
mission. This is his work and I am happy to labor in any part of the
field in any capacity.
The church is true, life is good, God's in charge, Satan hates you,
and I love you!
Love,
Sister Cale
given access to My Plan (a program for missionaries who will soon be
returning home to plan their lives), the Sisters finished their mural
at My Very Own Blanket, our mini missionary was a rockstar, the
sisters worked a lot down where the humble people are, the sisters
loved a week of cooler weather and died when the heat returned, the
Sisters ate Thai Food at Thai Grille (try the beef curry with the
sweet potatoes, cashews, and avocado), the Sisters went to Schneider's
bakery and tried the Westerville Famous donuts (they were that good),
Sister Cale hit her seventeen month mark, there was a district
meeting, a mini-zone conference, and so much other goodness.
Hello Dearest Ones!
We have had such a beautiful week and a half. I think it's amazing to
see what God has made possible for us as we have done everything we
could to bring about good in the life of his children. I feel like I
have been learning so many different things lately (maybe the spirit
feels like it's crunch time too?).
Something I have grown to love so much as a missionary is seeing the
spirit take over in a lesson and do the work of the Lord while we
occasionally contribute words so the investigator can be taught what
God wants them to know. We were blessed to teach two lessons like that
in this past week. Michael's lesson was the Restoration and it was
amazing to see him soak up all the different key points, and then at
the end of the lesson Sister Bohner asked him what he had felt during
the lesson. He then proceeded to bear his testimony of the Book of
Mormon and how it would bless him as he strives to change his life.
Our other lesson of such spiritual impact was with a girl named
Brittany. From the first time we contacted her we could feel God's
love for her and his desire to help her know of that love and feel his
support. As we testified that God loves her and that she is his
daughter, the spirit wrapped around us as we sat in the parking lot. I
know that God can accomplish his work everywhere, even in parking lots
on the rougher side of town.
So today is the preparation day before transfers, and we don't yet
have news on what is happening or if anything is happening. It feels
wholly and entirely surreal that this is the last transfer that will
happen that I won't know exactly what is coming next. To say that I no
longer understand the passage of time is an understatement. But I'm
excited for whatever adventure comes my way next whether nothing
changes or everything changes, I know that God knows what he's doing,
because there hasn't been a transfer that he got it wrong my whole
mission. This is his work and I am happy to labor in any part of the
field in any capacity.
The church is true, life is good, God's in charge, Satan hates you,
and I love you!
Love,
Sister Cale
Sunday, June 12, 2016
The Week of Results
On this week's episode of Sister Cale in Columbus-Sister Cale and
Sister Bohner began painting a mural for My Very Own Blanket
(#notqualifiedforthis), the Sisters went on exchanges to the foreign
land of Newark where people listen, the Sisters got smart and bought
pints of gelato (try the Peanut Butter Cheescake, it's to die for
#literallyforyoudad #somaybeyoushouldnttryit), the Sisters
accidentally switched phones with the Sister Training Leaders (this is
what happens when your phones look identical), the Sisters received an
awesome mini-missionary Sister Agler, and faith finally kicked in and
provided the miracles that follow work.
Hello Dear Ones!
I feel like one of my biggest Westerville lessons has been to wait on
the Lord's timing. I have never knocked in another area the way we
have knocked here. I have also never been so poorly received here.
It's been interesting to be required to apply the lessons I learned in
Pickerington about having faith to trust that God will work miracles
in an area where the results are less apparent. This week we have been
immeasurably blessed and I know that is because we have done the work
and shown the faith to in order to be worthy of the Lord's
intervention on our behalf. Last week we found eight new
investigators, this week we found fifteen. To put things into
perspective, I think the most new investigators that I have ever found
in another area over the course of one week was six. I know that as we
have strived to be more diligent, more obedient, and to work even
harder that God has led us to those who were prepared to learn more
and act on the message of the restored gospel.
One of the most memorable contacts from this past week taught me about
how sometimes people are gated communities. We first met Troy and were
able to talk to him about how the gospel is ideal for when we are
starting over in our lives because it is the Atonement of Jesus Christ
that makes change possible. We then talked to Daniel who has had a lot
of hard experiences with corruption in religion and was uncertain of
whether or not it would be possible for there to be a church that
wasn't corrupt. As we testified to Daniel that Jesus Christ's church
is back on the earth today and that God wanted Daniel to pray and find
out for himself, a girl sitting against her door asked us if we had
another pamphlet. We had tried to talk to her as we talked to Troy,
but she had pretended that she couldn't speak English. I know that she
was listening as we talked to both Troy and Daniel. It was only after
she had felt the spirit of our message that she was willing to be
vulnerable enough to allow us to talk with her. It turns out that
Brittany had told her mom the night before that she wants to find a
church because she is looking for peace amid the trials that their
family is facing right now. As she opened up to us the spirit was so
strong and she was so open to learning more and being strengthened in
her faith at this time. I know that the command from the Savior to
open your mouth at all times is real, and it is real because otherwise
you would miss Brittany and so many other amazing people (like the
awesome mail carrier that Sister Hill and I met on exchanges).
We're also really excited to begin working with Maureen and Osa. They
recently moved from the area and are incredible. They were a referral
from a recent convert in another ward and the Elders who gave us
Maureen's information were a bit resentful that they weren't going to
get to teach her. I now understand why. They are so receptive to the
spirit and were entirely open to The Book of Mormon and essentially
invited themselves to church.
Another wonderful thing in my week was that the Sharples came up to
Westerville and took us out to dinner. I was so happy to see them.
Sister Sharples Sr brought us super yummy blueberry coffee cake and it
was awesome to be reminded once again that "repentance is a beautiful
process" by Brother Sharples Sr. And of course it was amazing to have
Matt and Crystal there as well. Of course there was a certain adopted
little brother of mine missing, but it was as close as one could get
to having family and it was glorious.
My friends-the church is true, life is good, God's in charge, and
Satan hates you.
Love,
Sister Cale
Sister Bohner began painting a mural for My Very Own Blanket
(#notqualifiedforthis), the Sisters went on exchanges to the foreign
land of Newark where people listen, the Sisters got smart and bought
pints of gelato (try the Peanut Butter Cheescake, it's to die for
#literallyforyoudad #somaybeyoushouldnttryit), the Sisters
accidentally switched phones with the Sister Training Leaders (this is
what happens when your phones look identical), the Sisters received an
awesome mini-missionary Sister Agler, and faith finally kicked in and
provided the miracles that follow work.
Hello Dear Ones!
I feel like one of my biggest Westerville lessons has been to wait on
the Lord's timing. I have never knocked in another area the way we
have knocked here. I have also never been so poorly received here.
It's been interesting to be required to apply the lessons I learned in
Pickerington about having faith to trust that God will work miracles
in an area where the results are less apparent. This week we have been
immeasurably blessed and I know that is because we have done the work
and shown the faith to in order to be worthy of the Lord's
intervention on our behalf. Last week we found eight new
investigators, this week we found fifteen. To put things into
perspective, I think the most new investigators that I have ever found
in another area over the course of one week was six. I know that as we
have strived to be more diligent, more obedient, and to work even
harder that God has led us to those who were prepared to learn more
and act on the message of the restored gospel.
One of the most memorable contacts from this past week taught me about
how sometimes people are gated communities. We first met Troy and were
able to talk to him about how the gospel is ideal for when we are
starting over in our lives because it is the Atonement of Jesus Christ
that makes change possible. We then talked to Daniel who has had a lot
of hard experiences with corruption in religion and was uncertain of
whether or not it would be possible for there to be a church that
wasn't corrupt. As we testified to Daniel that Jesus Christ's church
is back on the earth today and that God wanted Daniel to pray and find
out for himself, a girl sitting against her door asked us if we had
another pamphlet. We had tried to talk to her as we talked to Troy,
but she had pretended that she couldn't speak English. I know that she
was listening as we talked to both Troy and Daniel. It was only after
she had felt the spirit of our message that she was willing to be
vulnerable enough to allow us to talk with her. It turns out that
Brittany had told her mom the night before that she wants to find a
church because she is looking for peace amid the trials that their
family is facing right now. As she opened up to us the spirit was so
strong and she was so open to learning more and being strengthened in
her faith at this time. I know that the command from the Savior to
open your mouth at all times is real, and it is real because otherwise
you would miss Brittany and so many other amazing people (like the
awesome mail carrier that Sister Hill and I met on exchanges).
We're also really excited to begin working with Maureen and Osa. They
recently moved from the area and are incredible. They were a referral
from a recent convert in another ward and the Elders who gave us
Maureen's information were a bit resentful that they weren't going to
get to teach her. I now understand why. They are so receptive to the
spirit and were entirely open to The Book of Mormon and essentially
invited themselves to church.
Another wonderful thing in my week was that the Sharples came up to
Westerville and took us out to dinner. I was so happy to see them.
Sister Sharples Sr brought us super yummy blueberry coffee cake and it
was awesome to be reminded once again that "repentance is a beautiful
process" by Brother Sharples Sr. And of course it was amazing to have
Matt and Crystal there as well. Of course there was a certain adopted
little brother of mine missing, but it was as close as one could get
to having family and it was glorious.
My friends-the church is true, life is good, God's in charge, and
Satan hates you.
Love,
Sister Cale
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)