July 7, 2014

Sometimes I don't know what to write.  Or even where to begin.  There is SO much going on in my head and lately I haven't been sleeping well because my brain seriously doesn't stop.  So if you have any ideas to make my brain stop thinking about a million things at once it would be much appreiciated :) 

Anyway I am glad you guys had a good 4th !!  I can't believe how fast time has gone by!!  Our 4th was good. We spent it at the Novaks with the Elders and did a hot dog roast and played some games then saw the fireworks.  

We met some new people this week to teach and they are super crazy I am sure!  They are all 3 homeless and live in the same camp as our Recent Convert who has been helping them learn.  Well we had a super awesome lesson with them and then Harlan goes and ruins it by saying I am married to Stacy, but I am with Autumn like she is kinda a concubine I guess...  This place is nuts for sure, but I am SO grateful to be here!  So many people have kinda explained Decatur as a Sodom and Gomorrah and I am starting to kinda believe it.  I am ready to take J Golden Kimball's advice and burn the place down and do baptisms for the dead :)  Just kidding but how much easier would that be :)  So teaching them has been great.  I know that this experience as a missionary is really going to help me as a parent someday.  So these three are all in their late 20s and they all act like teenagers.  They said to us if you aren't okay with this situation then we are going to leave right now and never come back.  So basically we have been trying instead of being blunt, because I know that would not work, we are trying to give them opportunities to learn for themselves that what they are doing is wrong.  It takes opportunities to feel the spirit because that is what can soften their heart.  And really it has been working.  As they continue to learn, to pray, read, go to church etc.  They are learning and finding the answers on their own. I am learning that it is not our job to sit here and tell these people what to do.  No what we are doing is being their guides to finding answers on their own. 

My brain is still at high speed right now and I am making connections with so many things even as I am writing this!  That's what the spirit does :0  But I don't know if you have read this months Ensign (yes I finished the July Ensign even before July started ;)  But there is an article about raising young adults and one part really stuck out to me.  

1. 5. 
    Trust them with their decisions. This doesn’t mean believing that they will always make perfect choices. It means trusting that they can be resilient, that God is forgiving, and that life can be deeply meaningful even when it includes overcoming failure or enduring trials. Young children can be scarred by trauma, but young adults grow from overcoming obstacles rather than avoiding them. Provide emotional and practical support, encourage breaks from the stress, pray with and for them, and inject a little humor.

The part I highlighted really stuck out to me.  These people are teaching have to learn by experience!!  I love being an instrument of God and being able to let him work through me to help his children in whatever way he wants me too!  I love this gospel with all my heart!

K one more thing though.  Yesterday Sister Dewey our RS president gave a great lesson and I really wanted to share part of it with you.  These are some Lies with the truth right after

1. Lie: Because of my Weakness and failings God is disappointed in, continually frustrated with, and even angry with me.

Truth: God loves me and rejoices in me because I am His child.

2. Lie: I am a terrible failure.  I will never be good enough because I keep making the same mistakes over and over again.

Truth: I am not perfect, but the desires of my heart are good, I can feel inspired to progress.

3. Lie: I am not as righteous, spiritual, attractive, or kind as that other person therefore, God must love that person more than he loves me.

Truth: God knows my individual potential and progress intimately.  He doesn't not compare or rank me with His other children. 

4. Lie: I have too many issues, hang-ups, and past mistakes to be blessed and happy.

Truth: No mistake, no personal challenge, no past circumstance is outside of the healing and redemptive power of the Atonement.

5. Lie: I need to prove that I am worth loving by being perfect.  Only when I am perfect will I be able to experience love from God and from others.

Truth: Even though I am not perfect now I can have constant access to divine love.

All of these things have continually entered my mind.  Especially as a missionary.  But remember God loves you the way you are and you are better than you think you are!!  

I love you and am super stoked to go to the temple tomorrow.  It will be a treasured time with my Father in Heaven :) Have a good week!!

Sister Calton

June 30, 2014

So this week was great!! The best part was Randy F getting baptized; this is the guy that is homeless!!! But it is amazing how far he is come!! He has learned SO much and changed So much!!! I am so grateful for the opportunity we have had to teach him!! The water was way cold because the water heater was broken  But Sister Montgomery was able to come back for it and tons of members were there and all of the missionaries in Decatur! The room was packed, standing room only! It was great  When he went into the water and came back out he was glowing! We watched some Mormon messages while he changed and the spirit was just WAY strong! He bore his testimony and I don't know how he learned so much in such a short of time, but it was great!! He sincerely wants to learn more and is like a sponge that soaks it all up!

Randy G. is the coolest! Yesterday was Sister Auble's dad's birthday. He passed away when she was 15 and so Randy got a crappy cupcake the only one we could find without going to the store and we put a candle in it and sang happy birthday to her dad  It was great. Then she smashed it on his head  We had a good time! He is preparing for baptism on the 12th of July which is right before transfers. I wish you could just meet him!! He has come so FAR!!! Sometimes he says he is our job, but we constantly remind him we do this because we love him!! So the other day he said something that hit me "It's not a job, its joining a family." It has been so humbling to see a man who was ready to commit suicide because there was no reason for him to live change to someone who tries SO hard to find good in EVERYONE just because he knows they are a Child of God. He is a good example to us now 

I love being a missionary and sometimes I have to remind myself to soak all this in. When I hear sisters talking about how they only have two weeks left it tugs at my heart. I don't count and honestly I don't care. I am here to serve until my Father in Heaven says it is enough. I am giving up my whole heart to him because I have learned to trust him SO much!!
Sorry I ramble a lot  But I wanted to share a couple of things...

I have been reflecting a lot on how far I have come!! I remember the Sunday before I left I went into Sunday School and sat on the very back row. I remember being SO terrified but the spirit told me to comment on a scripture so I did and I remember my heart racing and feeling anxious. Well I didn't realize really how far I have come until yesterday when we were in class and comments came so naturally. Change happens so much sometimes without us noticing :0

LOVE YOU All!!
Whitney, (Sister Calton)

June 23, 2014

So first I have to tell you this week was way great and there was one point that I was like yeah I have never really been homesick and that my mission has become home and all that cool stuff.... then I come to email and I realize that I am totally homesick haha.  The good thing is that it is only when I email so that means I can sufficiently focus on the work when I am supposed to.

Last week we had Olympics and it was okay.  I love playing sports!  But I haven't really been around other Sister Missionaries for a long time.  In Washington and in Decatur I am surrounded by Elders and I guess I have learned to be a little rougher when it comes to playing sports haha it has been fun :)  

Randy F is getting baptized this week!!  Saturday and Sister Montgomery is coming back to see and it is just going to be great .  I got to talk to her on the phone and it was SO weird!  But it was great to hear from her.  I miss her, but I love Sister Auble.  It’s weird how you can gain so many best friends :0  I love being a missionary though.

I don't know much else to write, but I do want to write about a miracle we saw lately.  Randy G (The older one that WAS atheist :) was having a really rough time with some things.  You could see how down and depressed he looked and he hasn't looked that way since the moment we met him.  But there wasn't even a light in his eyes.  This was probably the coolest teaching moment of my life!  You see I have felt that way before.  It was very humbling to share with him two scriptures that opened my eyes at that time in my life.  1 Ne 21:16 and Alma 7:12.  They both talk about Christ.  He knows us each individually and the scars in his hands are his reminder of each one of us!  The Alma scripture talks about how he felt LITERALLY everything.  All our pain all our sorrow.  So after reading that we felt impressed to pray right then and there.  So we did :0  After each of us said a short powerful prayer the old Randy came back.  That is the light of Christ was once again radiating out of him.  It was the most humbling experience to see how what we teach works only if the SPIRIT is the one teaching through us.  We are conduits for him to work through to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man :)  There is nothing I would rather be doing right now :0  

Oh so I just remembered something else!  In church yesterday Sister Auble got annoyed with a grumpy old lady in our ward.  Someday I will have to explain this lady.  But she said she just wanted to slap her cause she was being SUPER rude.  It was funny because we were passing notes about it and I was trying to help sister Auble calm down.  I wrote something about how she isn't the one that needs to worry about it.  We are just to turn the other cheek and Heavenly Father will take care of them.  It reminded me of the so many times that we would call and tattle on each other and you or dad would always say just leave them alone and we will take care of it when we get home.  Little did I know you were teaching me an eternal principle :)  We aren't supposed to worry about the actions of others.  We are just to grin and bear it.  And the Lord will deal with it.  :0  Slowly but surely I am able to reflect on all the amazing lessons I was taught as a child and a teenager that I was too stubborn and shortsighted to see then :)  

Love,

Sister Calton

PS The picture is of me teaching a library statue :)  Yeah we do that sometimes haha

June 16, 2014

So our week has been great!!  Not too much to tell except we have a lot of guy investigators so it gets hard to track down a sister who can come with us to all our lessons.  Plus we see both our Randy's every day.  Good thing we have had some good weather!  I love working with them though.  Randy F. just gets it!!  We taught him about the Word of Wisdom and he said okay I had my last cup of coffee this morning. He is amazing though!!  Randy G is hung up on the fact that Mormons have so many rules!  He mentioned that He is just our job.  When he said that I ripped my name tag off and said "Randy, you are my friend, my brother.  If I were a missionary or not I would still be here for you helping you understand I have to learn a lot of patience with him as well :)  But He has come so FAR!!  He was atheist and now openly admits there is a God.  Plus he loves Mormons :)  I love this work!  I love having to grow SO much especially with Sister Auble!  We have become fast friends, but we have had to compromise a lot.  I have been doing missionary work MY way for the past 6 months because I was training them, but she has already had 2 other companions.  It has been a struggle sometimes, but those are the moments that have brought us closer!  

Oh one more thing. Guess what I have been doing lately!  One of the YW in our ward had an extra flute!  I didn't know I could still play it!! How hard would it be to send my flute.....haha.  Or can you get me some flute church music?  I never realized how much of a stress reliever it is!  Except I am pretty sure it is what has made me deaf in my right ear haha.  

Anyway I hope things continue to go well!!  I love you all and pray for you daily!  I love being a missionary!

Today we are getting with a bunch of missionaries and having Olympics.  I will have to send you some of the pictures :)  I love this work.  Nothing is greater in life :)  Have a good week!  I love you!

Okay and CHEESY picture of my new favorite outfit :)  Thanks a million mommy!!

June 9, 2014 (Finally in Order)

I love my new companion, but I am really sad that Sister Montgomery is gone.  She changed me forever!!   She has helped me to see through completely different eyes and I have learned how to truly love people.  I have learned how to completely give myself up to God!!  I can't even explain how much I have changed inside in the past 3 months!  

My new companion Sister Auble is from Houston Texas.  She is a hair dresser and a singer, but completely different than Sister Montgomery.  We have a lot to learn from each other and a lot to teach each other so this is going to be very interesting ;)  But I am grateful that I can see her potential and her love for the gospel.  She is an amazing daughter of God and I pray that we can make each other better after this transfer is over!!  

We had an awesome week because Randy the atheist isn't really atheist any more :)  Sister Auble is really bold and invited him to be baptized so it was wicked sweet!!  He is preparing right now for the 12th of July and we are stoked!!  Yesterday I was pretty bold with him though. He was saying now that he believes in God that he needs to find the church that is right for him.  Being very inspired by the spirit (because I could never say these things myself) I told him he is going to search all over the earth for a light that is right in front of him.  I bore my testimony about how eternal TRUE happiness is only going to be found in GODS church and I KNOW with all of my heart that THIS is his church.  It was not me speaking and I can't explain the power that I felt and then the fear afterward!  I thought he was going to stop talking to us then and there.  But Because Heavenly Father touched him; I know he feels it even a little more now.  He still wants to find out on his own, but I know my testimony touched him.

So a lot of my studies are focused on him and today I was really studying about faith!!  And I was thinking about even if there wasn't a god or if Jesus Christ never came to the earth or if the Joseph Smith was a fraud then this is ALL still worth it!  I have never felt like my life has been more fulfilling than now.  I have never felt so much peace, love and joy that I could never find in the world.  The best part is I KNOW there is a God.  He is my father.  HIs son, my brother, came to the earth and died for ME!!  And through the Prophet Joseph Smith GOD'S church was restored.  I know this because I have tested out my faith.  I have given up SO much for it and found out myself through trial and tribulation.  It has been the most amazing process of my entire life.  One I pray that I will never forget!  I have a purpose to live!!  I have peace in my heart that nothing in this world can offer!  

There is a quote I want to share with you
"Even if the Church weren't true, it would still be the best way to raise a righteous family unto our Heavenly Father.  This is the "common sense" approach to understanding the gospel."

I know it is true and it makes everything SO worth it!!  I am so grateful for your sacrifice mom.  And Dads as well and everyone else who has touched my life!!  I would not be who I am today and where I am today without the two of you!  You have carried me through the hardest times of my life and have taught me how to trust my Father in Heaven.  That trust has helped me more now than ever!  I love you guys!!

So we went to transfers on Wednesday and I got to see the sisters I was with in the MTC!!!  Look at how no one really has changed!!..... except me :)  I am grateful that this is the biggest change of my ENTIRE LIFE!!!  I pray that it doesn't stop though!  I have a long way to go!  These pictures are a physical change and you can't see the spiritual change, but I swear when I look into my eyes in the mirror I cannot recognize who I am, but at the same time I feel Like I am more me because I am becoming who I am destined to become!!  Truly miraculous!!  

Sorry this is long :)  But one more thing.  We taught the Carsons 5, 4, and 3 yr olds how to pray and it was the sweetest thing in my entire life :)  

Thank you for everything!  I can't think of anything else I need :)  I am happy :)  I love you all SOOOOOO MUCHHH!!  Keep smiling keep becoming more like Jesus Christ every day because that is what this life is all about!  I never want these moments to end!!  But I know God has SO much in store ;)  Keep the faith!!  

Provo Temple

Same Sisters 9 Months Later

Sister Auble and Sister Calton

April 14, 2014 (Almost in Order :) )

Okay so if she gets her call before Mother’s Day I don't want to know where she is going until then!  I want her to read it to me :0 I think it has actually hit me that Amy isn't going to be there when I get home. It’s funny how when something finally hits you it kind of hurts, but I know that she will be doing the work of our Father in Heaven and there is no better way for us to grow closer as sisters.  I can't even explain how much I have learned about that and getting along with people and loving people!  The Church is true that is all I have to say!  

I love your testimony of things scattered throughout your letter, that of worldly things not really mattering.  We have an investigator that will not come to church because she is afraid that the people there will judge her.  She is the sweetest lady and has been really learning so well.  The problem though is that worldly things get in the way.  So many other things have happened this week!  We are teaching an atheist that wants to be a Christian!  We had to drop a couple of investigators this week because they weren't progressing.  We have been learning about fear and I realized I was so afraid to drop investigators because then we wouldn't have anyone to teach plus I desired their salvation so much!  But after much fasting and prayer we had to make the decision.  That is we knew Heavenly Father had other people prepared for us to teach and we can't spend time on those who don't want to change.  Their time will come.  But as the week went on we kept finding people and finding people and I KNOW for a fact that Heavenly Father has prepared people for us to meet and even if it is just to plant a seed I am okay with that!  

So this week was transfer calls, but luckily we were saved because when a new missionary is training we stay together for 12 weeks instead of the normal 6 weeks. So we are safe in Decatur until June.  But we were reminiscing and realizing how much good has happened in the past 6 weeks!!  I wish I could explain everything I have learned!  I know that my Savior lives!!  I know he is here for me every day!  Also because of our Atheist investigator I have been studying a lot on how to help him understand about our Father in Heaven.  Because of that my testimony of My Father in heaven and even of Joseph Smith has grown tremendously!  

A common theme I have realized throughout my mission is that of trials.  I finally realized that we aren't meant to be happy-go-lucky all the time.  Life is not meant to be lived without trials.  But it is meant to be lived with hope!!  I read a quote that I want to share with you!!

"New life starts in the dark, whether it is a seed in the ground, a baby in the womb or Jesus in the tomb, it starts in the dark." - Elizabeth Dias

The trials or dark times in our life are our Heavenly Fathers way of preparing us to meet the light!  Everyone will take different amounts of time, but the time in the darkness is a growing stage.  It is not meant to be easy, but it will be worth it.  And I know just like the sunrise the darkness won’t be dissipated all at once.  It takes a gradual process, one that we don't really recognize until we look back :)  So as you find yourselves in the darkness, remember who our light is.  Oh and a poem because that is cool too. 

It begins in the dark

There is blackness all around

There is no sign of a mark

No inkling of a sound

Fear seems to set in 

For time begins to glide

Is this the result of sin?

Is there something I tried to hide?

I feel like I am drowning

But there is no water here

Why is the Lord frowning?

Our friendship did i sear?

I don't know how to leave

This deep and awful pit

On my knowledge I do cleave

He will save me from it

Then I begin to see

 What I have never seen before

The light comes from within me

From the deepest part of my core

The fire is the light

Of a friend who's always here

He brings truth and sight

And promises to stay near

he lifts me from the dark

And the fog is finally gone

On this journey I embark

The lights are now on

But what I have learned 

Will forever be in heart

To my Savior I have turned 

And that is where I start

The dark is where life begins

whether a baby, a seed, or day

Its not because of sin

For there is no price to pay

So share the light you've got

In this dark and dreary place

Find those whom Christ has sought

And share his saving grace

I know that Jesus is our light!!  Follow him for he has already walked through the rugged paths and paved the way back home.

We got tons of candy for Easter Bleh!!  So you don't have to send any candy.  But I do have a request... Can you send me some more Redmond clay?  I have been using it on my face and it has really helped especially since I got sun burnt from one day out in the sun.  Illinois doesn't know what spring is.  I love you all and hope you had a good Easter!!  Happy Anniversary this week mom and dad!!  Also Happy birthday to Zach!!  I will send a card, but it probably won’t get there before Wednesday. Good luck with the roof. Almost glad to say I'm not there right now hahaha Love you!!

...and for some pictures... :)  We have some members who own a farm on the outskirts of Decatur and they give us eggs ;)  and the pigs names are bacon, ham, and sausage ;) Then the other picture is of us with our Easter baskets from sister Montgomery's mom.

April 7, 2014 (Almost in Order)

So I totally made a list of all the things I wanted to write to you about....but I left it in the car :(  So guess I will have to try and remember and then send you a letter with whatever I forget :0  First I was dying to see you in the crowd!  I just knew you had to be there during one session!!!  But no I didn't see you :(  But just the fact that you guys were watching it the same time I was, was cool :)  Amy and Michael look so grown up!!  Tell Michael he has to stop growing!! 

I had allergies REALLY bad  two weeks ago.  But it was probably a cold I just refused to accept that I was sick.  But I am doing tons better now.  I have some Claritin D that I bought so I should be good.  If not I will surely let you know.  Thanks for thinking about me though!

I REALLY wanted to see that movie!! (The Saratov Approach).  Someone was telling us about it and I was dying to see it!!  My red head friend Rin is in Guatemala and she said something about how the light too, funny how that has been a theme lately.  We talked about sharing that light with everyone I swear!  We had a meeting and they put us all in this dark room.  Then they lit a candle and it was in front of a picture of Christ.  They gave each of us a candle that we "shared" the light from one person to the next to light.  They told us to ponder about the light that we are each given.  We are in such a dark world right now!!  But lucky us we have light :)  We can choose to share it or be selfish and keep it to ourselves!  I challenge each of you to reach out and share the light with others!!

Sister Montgomery and I were talking and I mentioned how grateful I am for my mission.  You see living in Utah we are surrounded by Mormons.  A lot of them have really strong testimonies and truly believe in the church.  But there are many who have very shaky testimonies and don’t keep the standards as much.  So we concluded that Utah is kind of a grey area.  But when you are immersed in studying the gospel every day and attempting to be around non-members constantly you learn that it really is black and white.  Your testimony is challenged SO much that you have to decide if you even believe it is all true.  You quickly come to realize what life is like without the church and how much you have taken it for granted.  Well at least that is how it happened for me.  A lot of missionaries leave home hoping to help others come unto Christ.  What they don't realize a lot of times is that they draw ever closer to Him in the process.  I am not saying it is easy.  This is probably the hardest thing I have ever done.  But I would never take a second of it away.  I have learned SO much that I can't even explain it!  Someone said something about it at conference.  It went something along the lines of some things can't be taught only learned.  It reminds me of all the times you told me things, but then I would explain them to you years later :)  You taught me knowledge, but most importantly you taught me how to learn :) 

April Fools came to a close last week and we were in our apartment getting ready for bed and I thought this is the only time I will be a missionary on April fools!! I have to do something!'  So I told Sister Montgomery that I wanted to go home.  It was dumb but it worked pretty well :)  Then silly me trusted her too much.  We went to bed around 10:30 and then at 10:50 the phone goes off and she answers it.  It was our Ward Mission leader and he was telling us that there was a tornado and we needed to get to the basement of our apartment complex!  I was half asleep and so I just grabbed my glasses and we rushed out the door.  I turned to go and grab something from the apartment before we left.  The only thought that was going through my mind is that we were going to be in a room full of people so this would be a perfect opportunity to teach a lesson!!!  Well before I could go back in, Sister Montgomery blurts out "April Fools!"  I was ready to do something really mean to her, but now we just laugh :) 

That was the highlight of my week :)  (Ha, ha not really).  We have been teaching some really great people and it is amazing to see when people understand truth!!  The lord truly leads us to people and then puts others in our path as well.  We found two new investigators this week because our current investigators invited others to listen as well!!  And the best phrase I have heard all week was when one of the said "this all makes so much sense and it is so simple!"  That is my testimony.  The gospel is simple enough that primary children can explain it!  Think of all the primary songs that we heard in conference!  To be as a little child is my goal :) 

Anyway I loved conference and can't wait to get the Ensign of it!!  I wish that I could just print out all the talks!  It’s all modern day scripture and there were so many answers to my prayers!!  I urge you all to read and listen and ponder and study their messages.  I know that happiness can be found only as we abide by their words, which are the words of our Father in Heaven!!

I love you all and pray that you are doing well!!  Keep working hard and, in the words of president Monson, may we all be found doing the work of the Lord!!  Have a good week and enjoy spring :) 

March 31, 2014 (Out of Order)

I feel like I start with this every week, but I have no clue where to start!!  Except that I am so happy :)   I am glad you guys sound like you had a good week!!  Tell Michael he is awesome and to keep up the good work!!  Tell him to keep studying and take the ACT again so he can get scholarships and get school paid for!! 

Anyway so this week was pretty great :)  Except 9 of our lessons canceled this week so we kinda felt like failures and were all down and stuff until the woman's broadcast which was AMAZING!!!  The Spirit of the broadcasts are so awesome and so different than watching it later or reading it.  Because it is live and so many people around the world are watching it at the same time.  Sometimes we feel like we are alone here and the church is struggling, but when I see so many people in the conference center it reminds me I have brothers and sisters all around the world who are going through a similar thing.  WE ARE NOT ALONE!!!  and we are never meant to be :)  

So Andrea and Julian got married on Monday and we got to be witnesses it was pretty cool!!  They have adorable little kids!!  Then when we were walking out of the court house Julian (who is LA) says now that you guys witnessed our marriage you will see us at church Sunday!!  We didn't even have to invite them!!  When we teach people and help them feel the spirit they will do what is right!  Another investigator who has been sick called and said she already had a ride and would be at church Sunday as well!!!  It was amazing to see miracles happen because of prayers and faith and just trusting in the Lord :)  

We did A LOT of service this week for a quilting convention that was happening and then we helped Julian clean up a football field with his team.  His kids were there and we played with them a bunch.  The rules about us not holding little kids is HARD especially when they jump on you!  But exact obedience :)  OH and Andrea has accepted to be baptized but it is going to be difficult because she is pregnant.  She was due on May 21, but the doctor said he may have miscalculated and she might be due at the first of May, but she thinks it will be even sooner!  So yeah we are praying that everything will work out.

We are so excited for conference this weekend!!!  There is nothing like listening to the prophets and apostles while on your mission!!  It is SO amazing!!  I encourage you to watch it live and take notes!!  Oh funny mom you asked me a couple of weeks ago if I ever speak in church.  The Sunday after that I spoke and then I spoke yesterday and last week we taught Relief Society :)  So we keep busy on Sundays.  But we taught about the importance of Conference and how we should spiritually prepare for it.  So get ready :)  Pray for understanding and for certain questions to be answered!!  

I love you guys and hope that you have an amazing week!!  Keep smiling and having fun :)  

Sister Calton (Whit)

March 24, 2014 (almost in order :)

March 24, 2014

One of our ward members asked us if we could tutor her five year old neighbor.  So we went there and he is the cutest little kid in the world!!  He is in first grade and they are learning so much more than I ever was!!  But I decided I want to be a teacher when I come home :)  Actually I decided maybe I will help you out in your classroom for a while and then decided if it is really something I want to do :) But my Patriarchal blessing talks about me enjoying primary children and I know its true :)

So, so much has happened this week I don't even really know where to start.  I wish I could simplify it and just tell you it all!!  I have a story about it being dangerous.  So we read your letter about Decatur and laughed cause it seems so much better according to your paper :)  But really it has the highest unemployment in Illinois.  And sadly no one wants to get a job because they earn more off welfare than they could from any job.  So we went with a ward member and talked to a group of unemployed people about volunteer work, that was fun.  We have been strictly forbid to go certain places at night.  Oh and best part of all of this... I live next to a prison!!  hahaha I love this place :)  But really the crime only comes from gangs and everyone knows us as the Jesus people or Church girls and they love us.  Especially the kids.  I feel like they sent me to a third world country :)  

But a majority of our investigators are African American and I am loving it!!  I am going to come home with an accent hahaha jk but we laugh way too much about how they speak!  Oh and cool story everyone here has their own religion and does not want to become Mormon, but they love having us over to talk to them.  Doesn't make sense!  Two of our investigators told us they don't want to be Mormon, but they keep saying that God has sent us there for a reason.  There are a lot of hard headed people out here!  But as we teach them about Christ we are letting the spirit testify to them truth and then slowly their hearts are softened. 

So we are in a district with 6 elders and us.  And last week we were talking about our investigators. We have a couple that isn't married and the guy is a member.  So we were talking him and he wanted us to come and meet his wife.  But before that we had District meeting and we were telling the Elders that we were going to get them married totally joking knowing it was going to take forever.  Oh and the Elders had little faith in us.  Well today at 4 I get to go and be a witness for their wedding :)  And she is going to get baptized in the next couple of weeks and then next year I am totally coming out when they get sealed.  Funny thing about it is that the elders won't know until tomorrow that they are married.  All this area needed was sisters :)  I will have to tell you the story about their wedding sometime though!

So randomly the quote "You will miss 100% of the shots you don't take" came into my mind this week and it reminded me of you mom!!  I applied it to missionary work in that we aren't going to get any investigators if we just walk by people instead of talking to everyone that we can!!  Sister Montgomery is SO good at it!  We even talk to people while we are stopped at stoplights :)  Hahaha they work is progressing and we are loving it!  

I was reading Jesus the Christ and read about the Unrighteous Steward.  The moral of the story went along the lines of this "If they are so prudent as to provide for the only future they thing of, how much more should you, who believe in an eternal future provide therefor! If ye have not learned wisdom and prudence int he use of "unrighteous mammon" how can you be trusted with the more enduring riches?" -James E Talmage.  How true is that!!  Heavenly father has given us so many blessings especially money.  And when we use it wisely and are prudent then we gain more wealth!  The same comes with our spiritual knowledge!  But if we are weak with our money or blessings then how could God trust us with eternal riches?  So this is what I am trying to work on.  Being prudent :0  

So last little thing.  Sister Montgomery shared this quote with me "There are some who make living the gospel seem like a sentence to a rock pile.  It's not living the gospel that's hard.  It's life that's hard.  It's picking up the pieces when covenants have been compromised or values violated that's hard.  the gospel is the GOOD NEWS that provides us the tools to cope with the mistakes, the heartaches, the disappointments we can expect to experience here." - Sheri Dew.  I have seen this SO much!!  The gospel is truly the greatest thing and I know that we can only have true everlasting happiness as we live the commandments.  I saw an old lady the other day with a lot of wrinkle lines.  It made me sad to see that the biggest ones came from frowning :(  Yesterday at church I met a 94 year old member who had just as many wrinkle lines.  But she was so much more beautiful because one her wrinkle lines definitely came from smiling too much because she was still doing it, and two because her beauty came from inside :)

The Church is true!! Love you all and I hope you have a good week and enjoy your trip to Nevada. Tell everyone I say hi and I love them!!  Keep your heads up and all that other good jazz.  Oh and SMILE :)  

Love

Sister (Whitney) Calton

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March 17, 2014 (Not in order yet)

I am exhausted... Always is like this when we get to a new area or when I get a new companion.  I just pray that I don't get sick and stressed.  But I am happy :)  My new companion's name is Sister Montgomery.   She is 23 and a hair dresser and a professional singer.  So if you look her up on youtube or something its Trisha Lynn. She has an amazing voice!  I miss Washington, but Decatur is becoming home. 

So this is a crazy kind of area that I will tell you about.  The notes you sent me were okay, but man they don't say how run down and ghetto this place is!  Probably worse than my first area.  No wonder they haven't had sisters here for 25 years.  Yeah we are the first and the Wards are LOVING us!!  We have a tiny tiny ward but that will change :)  We are here to work hard and not let Satan get in our way!!  So I have to tell you about our second day here.  We were contacting people and stuff and one guy just got released from prison for rape.  Later we met a guy that was high.  Sister Montgomery said she could smell some weed, and I realized that is the same stuff I have been smelling for the past 8 months in various places haha.  I know Heavenly Father is protecting us though because we have been in so many homes of people that smoke!!  If I ever get lung cancer I know where it is from.  Later we met a drunk guy that thought we were Amish.  So yeah that is Scary run down ghetto Decatur and I am loving it :0

I will for sure tell you more next week when we meet more people and find some to teach!  but I want to tell you one last story thing from church yesterday.  We were reading about the Sacrament in Relief Society when I realized the prayers for the bread and the Water are different.  

• Doctrine and Covenants 20:77

  77 O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this bread to the souls of all those who partake of it, that they may eat in remembrance of the body of thy Son, and witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son, and always remember him and keep his commandments which he has given them; that they mayalways have his Spirit to be with them. Amen.

• Doctrine and Covenants 20:79

  79 O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this wine to the souls of all those who drink of it, that they may do it in remembrance of the blood of thy Son, which was shed for them; that they may witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they do always remember him, that they may have his Spirit to be with them. Amen.

It says that his blood was shed for us.  So I was thinking about that and how when he gave up his body he gave it up for EVERYONE.  Immortality is a free gift to everyone.  On the other hand, eternal life can only be achieved by those who have been baptized and keep his commandments.  That is us!!  Yes everyone can have it, but for members who have been baptized and recieved the Holy Ghost and are enduring to the end, that is truly who the blood has an affect on.  That is why I am here!  To help other people to take part of that.  I am helping so his sacrifice wouldn't be in vain!!  For we can only enjoy the blessings of his atonement fully after we are baptized!  It is interesting how many other churches focus on the death on the cross.  We know that was important, but really, truly, the sacrifice in Gethsemane was the even that made is so we could live with our Father in Heaven again AND with our families!  I have left my home for 18 months so that others can be with theirs for eternity!!!

I love you all and am glad that things are going well back home :)  Thanks for the updates on everyone and tell Josh and Megan CONGRATS!!!  I love you!!

Whit

PS she cut my hair :0  Just a trim, but I love having a hair dresser as a companion :)