Sister Callista Chaffin: October 2019

Monday, October 28, 2019

10.28.2019 Repentance Is a Joy

This week was a low of 40 and high of 80. Sunday we went to church in a downpour and came out to the most beautiful warm humid sunny day!

Taco Tuesday

We had Taco Tuesday with a cute little non-member family we met on base! They are the cutest!

Thursday Eats

We went to lunch at Great Harvest with a senior missionary, Sister Downs she is so cute!-- She got here in February and said, "you have changed so much, even since we've been here"-- love her!

-Sleepy Peanut Butter Soup

We had Peanut Butter Soup from a member! She also gave us a huge glass of mango passion fruit juice and Sister Cunningham and I got so sleepy and drowsy! It was soo good! I almost had to take a 5 minute nap afterwards! But I stayed strong!

We had a great lesson with Sister Martin about fast offerings and tithing! I asked her "Will you pay tithing and fast offerings when you are baptized" and she said "when I'm WHAT? Sister Cunningham then said "I think so! You are prepared to be baptized"

She said she has something to tell us tonight!!! :)

Freaky Friday

We had an awesome mission Tour with Elder Bennett! He talked about how repentance is a joy! It's truly is!

We had a Halloween "Trunk or Treat"

And so many people came! The Rivassoto's, Toy, Tanaya, Anaya, the Rew family, and the Black family also came!

We brought chili, sister Martin with sister Liechty, they were instantly friends!!

Slump to Smiles Saturday

Rose - we showed her the "Joseph Smiths First Vision" and she was so amazed! I wasn't feeling great that day, but seriously her spirit lightened my heart so much and made me so happy! I love her!

Renewal Sunday

It was so rainy this morning! Then it was super Sunny and 81 degree's! So many blessings!

Evangeline, Romello, and Marshall came to church!!!

"And this is the manner after which they were ordained—being called and prepared from the foundation of the world according to the foreknowledge of God, on account of their exceeding faith and good works; in the first place being left to choose good or evil; therefore they having chosen good, and exercising exceedingly great faith, are called with a holy calling, yea, with that holy calling which was prepared with, and according to, a preparatory redemption for such.

...this holy calling being prepared from the foundation of the world for such as would not harden their hearts, being in and through the atonement of the Only Begotten Son, who was prepared" -Alma 13:3,5

Always Love,

Sister Chaffin

callista.chaffin@missionary.org

Rivassoto's!

Sister Downs!💙

I was in Centreville again!

All the things that sister Martin has given us other than food!

Trunk or treat party!

Virginia!

Potomac

Hahahaha Thanks W
hit for the face mask!

Monday, October 21, 2019

10.21.2019 Call Me Back When You've Read PMG

"Nevertheless the Lord seeth fit to chasten his people; yea, he trieth their patience and their faith"-Mosiah 23:21

Not only did the Lord seeth fit for chastening me this week, but also our mission President and a woman we just started teaching as well. Repentance is sure the greatest thing ever known to man!

We had a friend on date for baptism for Saturday the 19th. We had interviews on Wednesday and President's wife was the one interviewing because President had an emergency call! This was seriously a blessing. It gets a little stressful with President, (just like it would be in an interview with God, casually!) Haha so that was really nice!

We had a baptism lined up for this Saturday and we had the interview and we all decided to not go forward with it because his wife (wife of the person planning to be baptized) isn't too supportive at the time. So it was pushed back until further notice! We texted the President and he called us to understand why it didn't go through. Needless to say we had an hour long conversation that night, and 8 different calls within 24 hrs for the salvation of this one person's soul!

A few things we should've really done better and changed from past missionaries, but we failed to change them. So we wrote a letter to the wife apologizing! Much repentance involved.

Oh yeah and the same night a lady we were teaching commented to fix my prayer that I stuttered on. Honestly I've wanted someone to comment on my prayers to improve them! This one was a little harsh.. haha!

We met a sweet family last night! I swear I have met them before, I honestly feel like we are related and she is my mom or grandma or grandmother! She is from Columbia and his ancestry is Polish! They are so prepared to hear the Gospel. I love them with all my heart! God is great!

I know that God is sure funny! He will do anything to help each of us! I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ. To have a modern day Prophet today, lights my life with beauty and gives it purpose! I pray to have a greater capacity to fulfill His errand!

Always love,

Sister Chaffin

callista.chaffin@missionary.org

Sister Martin! The woman who made the mugs! She was doing another yard sale!

Love this!

She just randomly video calls us on messenger!

Trying to update while tracting in the rain

Baklava. My favorite Middle eastern dessert!

Had dinner on Base!

Raindrops keep falling on my head...or my water bottle. 🤷‍♀️

Monday, October 14, 2019

10.14.2019 Invitations Give Others Agency

What a week here in Fort Belvoir! We had Zone Conference and the main theme was about inviting others to partake of the ordinances that the gospel brings! We invited so many people after that to be baptized and to receive the Holy Ghost as a guide and comforter in their life! We also invited them to partake of the Sacrament, to partake of Jesus Christ's body! What a wonderful work this is!

We have a friend, Brother Deadwyler, that will be baptized this Saturday! He is so spiritual and so connected with the spirit! He is so ready! I cannot wait!

So sorry for the short email!

Love you all!

Sister Chaffin

Chewbacca

Heart moon

Jessica Alanna and Ja'naria Black! 💛

Sticky notes Sister Martins door! It made her day!

In front of the church!

1st District activity

Monday, October 7, 2019

10.7.2019 Elder Holland to Pres. Nelson's MIC-DROP!!

So it was 101 degrees on our thermometer in our car, but I only think it was 95. Then just in time for General Conference it turned to fall for 2 days!

What a blessing! God truly is looking over us day by day! Miracles continue to happen!

Elder Holland is THE MAN!!

"WELCOME TO GENERAL CONFERENCE" he says.... "see you next time" President Nelson said! What amazing men!

Remember in the Women's session where the Sister who introduced the changes? She explained how a young woman was called to be a president over her class. She was prompted to ask this one specific girl to be her secretary.. she was not very active in going to church, but this girl kept having recurring thoughts to ask her to be her secretary, so she did! The girl that had not been very active, said that she had never felt like she was a part of anything! A not very active woman in our congregation boundaries, happened to be watching the woman's conference on her TV and she heard this story and had felt the same way! She heard the song closely after, "We Thank Thee O God For a Prophet" and tears started to flood her eyes! She explained that she was crying like a baby and had felt so much love and care from her Father in Heaven! She tuned out the next few talks and texted a few of her friends! Then she finally tuned in to the Prophet Speaking at the end. She said that she had never felt the spirit so strong in her life! The next evening she texted us to see when the next time we were going to come over was. We agreed to stop by that evening! She explained to us this story and how much love she truly felt from God and knew what she had to do, and told us the things she and her family needed to do!

We shared a video from Elder Holland and began to bare testimony of the Reality of Jesus Christ and Love for each of us!! My heart loved them instantly, even though I have never before seen or met them in my life! I understood the peace, love and comfort she felt! We all need the reassurance! :)

This week we continued to be touched by the children that strive to hear of the Gospel of Jesus Christ! We desire to touch them, but they never cease to amaze us with their love and innocence! We got candy bracelets from Grace's kids and we knelt in the middle of the side walk, 8pm at night, in a pretty poor neighborhood in our area. As we knelt in prayer we helped 2 of the kids offer the prayer to their Heavenly Father! There are some things you will never forget!

The other little girl we are teaching in that same neighborhood continues to ask us to be baptized! We have been hesitant to put her on a date to be baptized because of their inability to make it to church :/ but this week I think we are just going to go ahead and plan for it! :)

We had a lesson with Sister Martin! WOW !! Did she open up to us!! She told us of her testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon! She believes it and knows it to be true!! She loves us so much already! We got a Christmas stocking from her this time!! And some more food! Even a whole frozen pizza! :)

She also told us a lot about her background.. she's basically a princess!!! She will be baptized in the next few months! She even said, if she will be baptized, it will be by us 2 missionaries! Looks like I'm going to be here for a while! ;)

Craziest thing happened.... We walked outside of an apartment and I unlocked the car and opened the door and got in... I looked down as I started to sit down and I thought to myself, "Why does the carpet look so funny? Then I look at the dash, and thought, "Hmm, that's a lot more black color on that dash than I'm used to! I looked over to the passenger seat and thought, "Oh it's a Nature Valley snack bar wrapper, I'm in the right car!" Then I looked back around and I smelled an odd smell.... I picked up my bag and ran out of the car!... This car was a Toyota! Not a Subaru.... Haha! I got into the wrong car! We were dying from laughing so hard!.. We were driving to our next destination, and I wa just in tears! Haha

We travelled to our next place, and before knocking on the door, I looked at the designated driver for this next transfer (Sister Cunningham)... and Sister Cunningham said, "Look, it's gonna be ME now!.. I'm like "Yeah..okay!" And we look, and there it is! I felt chastised!!

As we watched the rest of the conference in the weekend I felt the need to repent.. hahah