Week 26: Positivity Moves Mountains

Good morning to the West Coast!!!! 

Have you ever wondered why we say "good morning"? 

It is so we start our day off with positivity so that we can conquer the day! :) haha 

I've been putting negative thoughts out of my head this week and striving to change them to a positive and extra optimistic to keep Sister Wood and I both going! The end of this week was sooo rough! I swear from Friday to Sunday is when everything happens!

We had Zone Conference Friday and every time we see President Caplin, there is revelation I need to get from him! From God essentially. But no matter the day, he is my President and he gives me the orders so that I can be successful, and be a consecrated Missionary to the Lord! He gives me revelation from God to me! What's really awesome is that I gained much revelation while at that Zone Conference and my head hurt for the next 3 days from trying and pushing forth to being completely be lead by the spirit! That night after Zone Conference we put 2 people on date for baptism and adjusted the date for another one that is already planned for baptism! The work keeps flying and we strive to baptize monthly here! :) I've never testified so much of promised blessings within 3 days of teaching! I know this work is the most important work we can be doing on this earth! The Gathering of Israel is happening among us today, people!! I pray that it can take properly in all your lives! We see the promise of the Lord being fulfilled continually!! 

There is now going to be a Ghanaian program here of missionaries and hopefully then a ward of Ghanaians! How amazing! Anyone speak Twi?? Haha but what is really cool is that there are now companionship's of half English half Español! Sooo we as a companionship asked President if we could practice a little Spanish and he said of course!! We got 2 people's numbers yesterday from memorizing four phrases!! I am more than excited to start praying and contacting in Spanish. The Goal is so that I can teach in Spanish, but that's still in the making.. No hablo mucho Español. Haha! 

The topics of my studies have been crazy, I've been reading in the institute manual with the Book of Mormon and I've been reading 2 Nephi 2 all this week! There is so much in it! Its amazing! But the Highlight of my studies have been directing the talk "Consecrate Thy Performance" by Neal A. Mawxell!! WOW! I really recommend this talk! He gets deep! I'll share some of my favorite quotes!

"Having our will increasingly swallowed up by the will of the Father actually means an enhanced individuality, stretched and more capable of receiving "all that (God) hath" (D&C 84:39). Besides, how could we be entrusted with His "all" until our wills are much more like His? Nor could His "all" be fully appreciated by the partially committed.

...Frankly, it is our prospective selves we betray by holding back whatever the "part." No need therefore to ask, 'Lord is it I?' (Matthew 26:22) Rather, let us inquire about our individual stumbling blocks, 'Lord, is it this?' We may have known the answer for a long time and may need resolve more than His response." Neal A. Maxwell ("Consecrate Thy Performances" --General Conference address May 2002))

Keep building your Faith, Always.

Always Love!

<3 Hermana Chaffin ;)

Week 25: Transfer 5 in Centreville

6, going on 7 months in Centreville! Sweet goodness! This place has my heart in it! President left Sister Kay and I here till she left because we would find it out on the pavement. But now it sure is time for a refresher! My new companion, Sister Wood is the perfect person to refresh this area! She is so proactive and looking to help! She has such enthusiasm with a perfect touch of care and love. We are going to make this ward ever better and make many small improvements! 

Sister Wood is from Gilbert, Arizona! She loves graphic design, and art! She just got finished being trained in Vienna and did some amazing work there. She has style! We are the same size and height so I can wear her clothes! ;) 
(One of the pros to a stylish companion, is that you can be stylish too!) She has such a strong testimony of the Book of Mormon and of Jesus Christ! We had no problems in getting along and teaching together. I can take over a little just because I know the area so well... but that is being fixed! :)

One of the miracles this week that has been waiting to happen since I've been here, is Rosa Bertoldo to listen or sit in on anything that we discuss about in lessons we teach the Bertoldo's. 

STORY: We went over to the Bertoldo home for dinner. We started out with an object lesson with cups and knives where you try to put them together to be able to balance a Book of Mormon on it! Then we talked about how this represents the firm foundation Christ is for us and the cups represent the old new and another testament of Jesus Christ and they also represent the godhead... then we went straight in into the restoration how God is our Loving Heavenly Father! 

     

Then we ended it with an invitation that popped into my head--of them praying as a family each night!! And, they all said that they were willing to do that. Baby Alex and William weren't there obviously.. they were playing, but Sofia, my companion, and Brother Bertoldo were there and they kept testifying and bearing truths and doctrine to Sister Bertoldo and then I could just see her think alot about things when Sofia was talking about things that made her happy! It was amazing!! I have never testified so powerfully of Prophets! We are hoping to keep going over there for dinner and teaching her!! 

Sarah has this guy that comes from Maryland for 5 days of the week and helps her Dad. His name is Moez! He was in the picture with Sarah at her baptism! We were talking about how we need to be baptized to go inside the temple and Sarah said " have you ever asked Moez if he wants to be baptized?" and We said , "no!.... Moez would you like to be Baptized?!" and he got so Excited!! He said "Yes, of course! I would love to be!"

Wow the Work is going forth --STILL in Centreville 2nd ward! I love this area! Still Itching to get out but giving it my big last all these next 5 weeks!! :) <3

God is Our Loving Heavenly Father! We are His offspring and we have the ability to be as He is! He created us and He desires the best for us! Even though things tend to get hard and annoying and frustrating, we must always remember that this is the process of which we agreed to go through at the beginning of time! This is our mission, just as Jesus Christ, we must stay focused on our mission here on earth and strive every day to fulfill it and at continue to learn so that we are all able to be as he is!  

May Jesus Christ's Grace and Mercy forever be on our side as we strive to live his commandments with exactness! <3

Always Love,

-Sister Chaffin

Sister Kay before going home

Sister Wood

Week 24: 2 Baptism in 24 Hours

I Hope everyone's week was great!

"Our happiness depends on how we react to what happens around us." -Unknown

This week was CHAOS. The only word to explain it, CHAOS.

Last Sunday we didn't have church because of the snow, but we had dinner with a Brother in the Chinese Branch Presidency and he blessed the sacrament for us. This was such a blessing because this week we really needed it! We had to make the decision whether we were going to baptize Sister Khailtash Harley this week before Sister Kay goes home! And on Tuesday we made this decision!! ON Monday and Tuesday our Cars were not allowed to be driven because of the snow so we walked everywhere, even to the grocery store. It was crazy.. walking like 5 miles in 3 hours! Sister Khailtash Harley has decided to be baptized on Tuesday right before we walked out of her house, after we had meditated and she saw and smelled pink roses, we found, at the bottom of the stairs, a celestial pink rose! one single rose in the freezing cold of a winter night, laying there. I stared at it for a few seconds and didn't believe it was a real flower! We then had no doubt she was getting baptized that weekend! Planning 2 baptisms in one week was insane! We needed interviews and paperwork and people to do certain things all in line for Friday and Saturday! I have never prayed harder for these baptism to go through! but they turned out! Sister Khailtash Harley's Testimony was absolutely beautiful, we almost cried! I definitely almost cried when she was standing in the font to be baptized by out Stake President! She was crying before she went in the font, and I have never her such a profound "Thank you for everything" when she hugged me, in my entire life! There was many doubts with in this process, but Gods wills come through as it always does, and miracles happen whether we think it is or not. 

With Savannah, her confirmation was beautiful!! 

I have a new companion tomorrow, her name is Sister Wood and  I am so exited to be her companion!! I will also be adjusting to being a Single Sister Training Leader!

Love you all! 

Look for God's tender mercies every day, they are there!

Always Love,

Sister Callista Chaffin

Dinner at a Western themed place!! I got ribs and coleslaw!!

Sister Kay is going home!!

Sister Kay is going home!!

 "Mullin the 2 missionaries that are going home

sister Khailtash Harley baptism and family and a friend

Celestial Miracle flower! 

huge shoe print

Beautiful Clifton area!!

Mya! Sister of Savannah

Savannah baptism

Week 23: Snow & Miracles

How was everyone's week?!

Mine was kinda awesome, as always!

We had an exchange with another pair of sisters and I got to see the other, more older part, of Centreville. (When will I get out of Centreville? I will never know! ) That was really fun! it was really nice to have a change of scenery, people, and everything for a little while! :)

Honestly, the end of the week is literal chaos! So much always happens and changes, every end of the week! It's Exciting! So we are teaching Sister Khailtash and then a doctor guy came in for her dad to help him do exercises and the dad really didn't want to, so we started to make it fun and he finally started laughing at us then started doing it himself!! :D Then we got everyone in the whole apartment to do it! It was really fun! And Zorah, who was there as well got out a big plastic empty water jug and started hitting it with spoons and we had a little Iranian arm lifts/Dance party.. hahah! I couldn't stop smiling! :0 I love these people so much! They all have such a great desire to be like Jesus Christ they are all so loving, kind, hard working, and giving!

We had a dinner with a person that was taught before. She is from Louisiana and she made us FuFu! She loves cooking! The first time we came over she said God told her to open the door and let these girls in! it was such a blessing that night, first of all... Then while she was cooking she said that God told her that "at this dinner you have something to offer and give them, and they have some thing to give you!" It was so beautiful! She shared with us her vision board and her goals and got us hyped to make one ( then we did the next day) then we were able to give her a Book of Mormon! It was amazing! and she is amazing! Ever one should have a Rakeya in their life! :) We then went and taught this guy named Jay! He is awesome! He is pretty young, graduated High School in 2015 and just looking for something to give him purpose in life! it was amazing to teach him about the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ and about Joseph Smith! We were able to show him the Fist Vision video and he was in awe!! :)

We were going to have Savannah's Baptism but it snowed and the baptism and church and the schools were Cancelled. This week we might have 2 baptism's Savannah and Sarah! It was so disappointing to see the baptism cancel knowing that we only have 1 week till Sister Kay goes home, we will see if we can baptize these two this week.  We also have been walking for the past 2 days!

Have a great week!

Always Love. :)

Sister Callista Chaffin

Week 22: Iran to Egypt

The Original email Calli wrote was lost before she sent it, thus the short email...

This week was awesome!

Sunday was so cool! We have 2 people from Iran at church then we  went and knocked some door and talked to this Egyptian lady for way too long than we should but while we were there we were able to watch her as she prayed 1 of the 5 prayers that Muslims do!! We gave her a Book of Mormon then she gave us a Holy Quran in English.. hard to find! Can't read it on my mission obviously so it will keep it closed till I get home!!

Love you all!

Have  a great week!

Sister Chaffin

Week: 21 Endure to 2019

This week was... something else! 

We got to Skype our families and open lots of presents and say Merry Christmas to every one and give out candy! This week was a week of FINDING & more FINDING, but not much came from it. We had to tap out a few nights, just a little early. But that's Area book finding was actually needed in those times so it actually was productive! Sister Kay, my Companion, told me around the 4th transfer is when she started noticing her body wearing down on her. And hey look... 4th transfer, here we are! Just trying to stretch more and run more to work through It! We ran about everyday but Sunday, of course, this past week! And stretched every muscle and doing head stands while we were at it! Quite fun!

I finished the Book of Mormon today! Oh how fun was that! I had been a few days behind from early morning meetings we have had the past few months, but I finished it on time, by the seat of my pants... Haha.

We have been working mainly with Savanah and Sarah recently, they are the ones who are on date for baptism in January!

For the new year I have been thinking about the best thing I could do to become a better teacher! I love from the Book of Mormon,  Morni 8:16 "...Behold, I speak with boldness, having authority from God; and I fear not what man can do; for perfect love casteth out all fear." 

And in verse 26 "And the remission of sins bringeth meekness, and lowliness of heart; and because of meekness and lowliness of heart cometh the visitation of the Holy Ghost, which Comforter filleth with hope and perfect love, which love endureth by diligence unto prayer, until the end shall come, when all the saints shall dwell with God"

So as we repent and change ourselves for God we are able to have the perfect love, which is Charity and with Charity, meekness can come afterwards! So for the Next year I am trying to have the motivating force be because of love and I can only love as I repent and willing to love myself and God! In chapter 9:5 It talks about when the Nephites and Lamanites murder each other... "5.and they have lost their love, one towards another." 

Never loose love. Repent Repent Repent. 

Heleman 15:3 "...for behold, they have been a chosen people of the Lord; yea, the people of Nephi hath he loved, and also hath he chastened them.."

The plan is about love, my brothers and sisters, love others as He loves you and you will find to be serving others more frequently! 

May the Pure Love of Christ bless you life and start anew this next year!

Happy New Year! 

Always Love,

Sister Chaffin 

Journal from the Bertoldo's!

Christmas night... Haha

Water Droplets!

Week 20: Joyous Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone!!! Hoping you all were able to Light the World with LOVE this holiday season!!!

We had Zine conference thus Friday! It was our Christmas Zone Conference! It all started with Presidents Caplin's remarks on Charity & Love!

The most important attribute we could every receive is Charity - The pure Love of Christ! If you have Charity you are Nothing. Many of you may know my motto is to love always. I know that I am for sure not perfect at it but I try my best to love everyone! Only God knows how to love perfectly. President Caplin put things into perspective... "Love should be the motivating force in all things!"

 The reason we call the people we are teaching, friends is because we love them and don't want a slap an title on them, they are just our friends We are helping to receive saving ordinances. The fact that we try our best to prepare to teach a certain lesson, then go in to the lesson and following the Holy Ghost, it leads us to the things that that person's needs are. We focus on needs and how Jesus Christ can help them, and nothing else! It is the most rewarding thing when you can help someone over come things by the Grace of Jesus Christ and by His spirit, much prayer and fasting! Sometime people just need a friend and that,s what we are there for, then to help them realize, Jesus Christ is their FRIEND! 

A good scripture that I found in my studies (a compilation of a few verses) this week is from 3 Nephi 18:18,16,24,25 "Ye must watch and pray always... Behold I am the light; I have set an example for you. Therefore, hold up your light that it may SHINE unto the WORLD. Behold I am the light which ye shall hold up - that which ye have seen me do. Ye should COME UNTO ME, that ye might FEEL & SEE; even so shall ye do unto the world"

I know that each and every person that I meet as the Light of Jesus Christ with in them. It's just the act of recognizing it and shine it for for others to recognize and following in his path for us all to Come unto Him and Feel and see of His infinite Love and sacrifice for us all! 

I hope you all can FEEL AND SEE the Light and Love of Christ all around you! There are more tender mercies that we could ever see, we just have to look for them!! 

Alex Bertoldo Baptized his Daughter Sofia!! Now three of them are baptized! He got baptized in August, right before I got here, he then baptized his son, William November 24th, now he baptized her and received the Melchizedek Priesthood and gave her the Gift of the Holy Ghost! What a amazing things God brings forth! I couldn't be more grateful for the Beautiful Bertoldo family! Friends forever, that's for sure!

I know that the Book of Mormon is the Truest book that has ever been brought forth to the children of men. It testifies of Jesus Christ and the Plan of Salvation and the Love Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ has for us! We can read it every day to feel of His love!

I love you all! You are ALL children if God! Remember that!

Always Love, 

Sister Chaffin