Sister Callista Chaffin: Week 41: There is So Much to Do

This past weekend we had Elder Haynie come to our mission and we had a mission tour! Sister Minaker and I were able to play a really hard piano song and we split it up so that it was a duet of her playing the top hand and I played the bottom half! I have never played such an intense piece, especially with another person!
Last Tuesday Sister Caplin, the mission President's wife, called us to play a song for these 12 Elders singing it! It is called "Because He Lives" By Sally DeFord! I"ll be sending the Audio as well, note that we practiced like 2 run through's with the Elders, so it's a little rough! hahah But a little nerve racking to do that with a member of the 70! We also were able to have lunch with him and he sat at our table! what a treat! He sure looked like and sounded like Jefferey R. Holland! If you weren't paying attention you would've thought it was Jeffery R. Holland! He and his wife were so amazing and loving to each of us! They were also very funny! so never a dull moment, yet so very spiritually uplifting!! This meeting was Friday from 8am-4pm (at least we had to be there to practice and a small meeting with the leadership at the beginning).

That night we had a tri-stake member missionary meeting from 7-9pm (we didn't get home till almost 10pm pm). Elder Haynie, Elder Calderwood, and Elder L. Whitney Clayton and our mission president were all there! SOO COOL!!! What great meetings these really were!! We talked all about how we can be Natural and Warm at just inviting others to come and see and come and help, to be more involved!! The next morning we had to leave around 7:30 a.m. for a Mission Leadership Council until 1pm! wow!!! the amount of things I learned!!!I feel like I am set for all the council I need for the rest of my mission! hahah (JK) I can never get too much council!! There truly is so very much to do to assist the Lord in Loving His Children!

We then had an amazing Stake conference on Sunday! WOW am I so blessed to be in this Stake! so soo very blessed! :) We feel as if our Stake President could even be an Apostle soon in his life, the speed that he is going!! hahaha! After 12 massive pages of notes, we are trying to implement at least a few things from what we learned!

I learned recently how much I don't know how to teach through the scriptures! so that is really something I want to do because of these meetings!

I know that so many people wake up every day, yearning, pleading and searching for truth, love, and joy!! We need to do our best to love those around us. And, before we can love those around us, we must know why we are to love them, and that is because we Love God! Love is mentioned in the first two great Commandments: Love God with all thine heart and Love thy Neighbor as thyself!

One of my favorite scriptures, 1 Nephi 11:16,17 "And he said unto me: Knowest thou the condescension of God?

"And I said unto him: I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things."

God's plan is all about love.

Some other teachings we were given:
--"We must Gather ourselves first, before we are to Gather others in the spirit of love and unity!"

--"Ask your Heavenly Father on a regular basis to bless you and to help you to guide you and to overcome shortcomings"

--"Our daily decisions prepare us"

(-My Stake Presidency)

I met some amazing people this week, and hopefully you can hear more of who they are in the next few weeks as we continue to teach and learn to love them! :)

Go & Do and Believe & Love!

Always Love,

Sister Chaffin