Christmas Call!

Elder Callor and his mission were allowed to call using Verizon, so it was easier to get a hold of his family and inexpensive since we all have Verizon.
We each talked to Nick for a few minutes, and it was wonderful to hear his voice. Of course, Nick is always such a happy guy. He sounded peaceful, happy, and enthusiastic. He loves his new area, Rapid City and enjoys working with his companions. He is in a threesome. Apparently his apartment is full with him, his companions, and two other elders.
One story Elder Callor shared:
For Christmas his companions and a few other missionaries decided to go Christmas caroling to their investigators and members in their area. They baked and BAKED cookies, and other treats, about 30 dozen with their one oven. They tested them first on the mission president's wife, Sister Cannon and she was suprised they had baked them because they were so good. She thought maybe the sisters had helped them. hahah. Good job elders!
On the 23rd they caroled, then on Christmas Eve more missionaries joined them, including the President and Sister Cannon (his mission president and his wife). They each took their cars and drove in a long caravan to each investigator's house they had decided to visit.
One investigator who is getting baptized soon wasn't home, so a member who was with the elders suggested they not waste the visit and sing to the neighbor. When the missionaries first knocked on his door, he hestitantly and rudely opened the door. After a few Christmas songs, he seemed to lighten up, then as they were all leaving he seemed even more happy and grateful they had sung to him.
After the elders drove away, apparently the older man had ran into his house, grabbed a $50 bill and stopped President Cannon's car to give him the money. He asked if they were the Mormons, Pres. Cannon said yes, from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He then asked if they were the Mormon Choir from Utah and offered to donate the $50 to them. President Cannon talked to him for awhile and explained nicely how they couldn't accept the donation, but thanked him.
Nick said that was one of many other great things that happened to the mission this Christmas. He wished they would've caroled to more houses of people they didn't know and invited the spirit into their homes like they did to this one.
We're so glad we got to talk to Nick and proud of all he's doing in South Dakota.

Transfered!

Elder Callor has let us know that he is moving! He just got word that he is going to be transfered to Rapid City, South Dakota! I think that it would be hard to start in a new area just a few weeks before the holidays. Elder Callor is excited to go teach in this new area though! He will be leaving North Dakota on Wednesday of next week. He keeps begging for mail! (Guess I should get on top of that, because I have been bad). So don't forget to send him lots of Christmas Cards and stuff! Good Luck in South Dakota Elder Callor!

Halloween Picture

Elder Nick looks great! Hasn't changed a bit. This photo was taken on Halloween 08 and the other Elder is Elder Nielson. Elder Callor talks about doing volunteer work, working with the single adults in the area and being excited about the member involvement in Minot.

Little Update

Elder Callor is doing well. The weather is cooling off but not too bad. It isn't quite to the -20 that the residents say Minot gets down to. He says that "everyone keeps telling us that Minot will only get colder. That this was the tip of an iceberg." But for now they are comfortable wearing long sleeves, "it is holding out at just slightly cold enough to warrant wearing a thin sweater."

Poor Elder has a slight cold and is congested but can't take anything for it because everything has Pseudoepherdrine or Phenylephrine in it and we know what they do to him. He is allergic!

They are working hard on the 21-day challenge and starting fresh searching for those who want to know more about the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Oh yeah, and in Minot they can't get rid of the Wii's. I guess everyone else has too much free time on their hands. Elder Callor said that the stores are fully stocked with the Wii.

Headed to Minot, ND

My flight to Minot. The Plane was very small!

Ride from the airport to Minot. I'm finally here!!!

At the MTC

Nick met lots of friends at the MTC and when he gets a chance, he'll add the names to the following pictures and point out which one was his companion.

Looks like he's having fun too!

Get Set, Ready, Let's GO or not.

Elder Callor is doing well. Let me begin with this. It is a good thing that Nick hates tomatoes. His companion, E. McFarland has been sick, a "sinus congestion bug" that has been spreading throughout the mission, so they thought. They were put on "house arrest" until McFarland got better, so he didn't spread it to others. Well, come to find out he was trying to eat healthy and bought tons of tomatoes. End results, "salmonella poisoning". He waited for over a week to tell anyone that he was sick. Crazy elder. He didn't know about the "tomato-salmonella scare" when he bought and ate all of the tomatoes. Poor guy. Again, thankfully Elder Callor isn't a fan of tomatoes.

They have been working away with service helping others like Sister Shepard as well as teaching the gospel. Elder Callor has also found someone who may have him beat on preparedness and wisdom (so he says). A young man named Stephen. He is a Nuke Tech on base and leaves the air force to begin working on his mission papers. He has been able to go teaching with the Elders Callor and McFarland and has been a great asset.

You know Nick there is more than just one of you in the world. It will be okay. Wink, wink!

8 Weeks Out Already!

Elder Callor has officially been out for 8 weeks now. He is in week 5 in Minot. His companion is Elder McFarland. Elder Nick has talked about going tracking, getting up early to exercise, personal and companionship study and more. He has been on splits with with a Brother Schlenske. Apparently Brother Schlenske served in Louisville Kentucky the same time that Nick's older brother Brandon did (1996-1998). They have been to the Dairy Queen together and had dinner at his house. What a small world it turns out to be, right!

President Cannon is Elder Callor's mission President. The elders frantically cleaned the apartment the other day in anticipation of the president coming over, but alas, he did not come. At least they got a clean house out of it right!

Elder Callor reports that a new belt may be in the works soon as he moves down in belt notches! What a development!

They have been teaching 2 women, Linda and Yvonne. They were the first to have the pleasure of hearing the Plan of Salvation taught by Elder Nick for the very first time. He talked about using visual aides, Styrofoam hemispheres to represent each place, and Popsicle sticks. Sounds exciting! After a long day of tracking, and talking to over 30 people, the Elder's were invited into one house! Happy Day! Of course they found out through more talking that the gentleman was already a member of the church, but what a wonderful feeling to not be told no after so many rejections.

Keep up the hard work Elder Callor!

Minot, ND

Elder Callor is in Minot, North Dakota.

Departure!

Elder Callor is in the mission field. He left the MTC August 6, 2008 for South Dakota. I keep wanting to say North Dakota because his first area is Minot, North Dakota.

Letters from the MTC

Mom just emailed a copy of a couple of letters that Nick sent today. Thye first one reads:
Um, your letters came Saturday in one package and everything else came on Monday, err.. I picked them up on Monday, post office closes early on Saturdays and doesn't open Sundays (I think). You'll probably see my emails first, so I'll try not to be repetitive. The Provo Temple was amazing. We showed up like 20 minutes early for the 10:00 session, but initiatories were all full, so we (all 4) did endowments. Hopefully we'll get a chance to do initiatories early next Monday and then do a sessin. It is WAY too long a walk from our rooms to the temple, I was pouring sweat when I got there, thankfully my deodrant is super-good. Life here is kinda dull, but is picking up. Tuesday, Elder Tolley and I are teaching 2 plus lessons, one general lesson with an investigator (teacher), and another called "progressing investigators", which is part one of a 3-part set of lessons. Well, I'm off to take care of more laundry (washing-emailing, drying- this letter).
Love ya, Elder Callor

The Second:
Hey, Mom, Dad, Sara, Brandon, Katy, Isaac, Mel, Brandon, Amy, Alexis, Sora, KC, Kayden!

Wow, there are a lot of people in our family now! Without even listing extended family I filled a full line! Soon I won't be able to write the names as big. Can you imagine having an even bigger family? I'm already floating on cloud nine when I read all of the 'Love you's' in your letters! I am so excited to go to South Dakota and meet even more brothers and sisters! Simply imagining how many children of God are on the earth, and how much love He has for them, is staggering. President Boone, the MTC president, informed us that a few months ago it was announced that the Lord has called over one million missionaries since Samuel Smith. Add to that all the missionary work done by Christ and His Apostles!

Life is super-awesome here. One of you mentioned the showers and beds, thankfully the church did away with the 'Tree of Life' showers, where everything was open! Now everything is separated, so it is actuually really nice to not have a tie and suitpants AND to be alone for a few minutes in (relative) slience. My roommates really like to hum/sing so I rarely have peace and quiet, but it is good church songs that they sing, so I don't mind it. Which reminds me, in my e-mail I mentioned wanting a copy of "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing." from the old hymn book, no 70 or so. I REALLY hope you can get it.

Next Sunday my district is doing a musical number for church and would love to do that song, so if mom could get me a copy of it immediately that would be great. I say immediately only because I'm not sure how long mail takes to get there, then here. Also, mom should try and find me a song called "May I Serve Thee?" No hurry on this one, but I'm not certain that this is the title. It starts out with the phrase "Lord, Take These Hands" and another verse begins "Lord, take these ears." The chorus generally says "Simple gifts I now bring" and "May I serve thee!" The song finishes with "May I humbly live for thee?"

You could also get me a CD of it along with a CD player and speakers, can't be my MP3 player, though because it has video capabilities. Oh, would mom also like to record herself singing "I heard Him Come" for me on a CD? I love you all, but I've run out of time, again. Hopefully P-Day will last longer in the field, since we won't have to dress up for meals.
Enjoy the pool for me,
Elder Callor

This is a talk I wrote for sacrament this week, but didn't have to give. I'll send my talks to you in letters, and then you can copy them and sent them back, incase I ever need them.

The Atonement. It works! What better endorsement can there be? I know that the Atonement of Jesus Christ works exactly as the scriptures say it does: He suffered for our sins, trials, and sicknesses, and His resurrection makes it possible for us to live forever.

I know this because I have been applying it every day I've been here. After 12 days of taking advantage of His comfort, I know that it works.
It isn't just my own experience that testifies of this truth, but Paul and his fellow apostles and every prophet knew this was true. As Paul said to the Corinthians in his first epistle to them, in the 22nd verse of chapter 15: For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

MTC

Today at 11:30AM, Wednesday the 16th of July, we took Elder Callor to the MTC in Provo where he will spend the next two weeks preparing to serve in the South Dakota Rapid City Mission.

Nick has been preparing to serve a mission his entire life. He had a great interest to hopefully serve in Japan, where his grandma has many family members. He studied the Japanese language for 5 years, with 2 ½ years at BYU where he added to his studies the grammar, kanji and culture of Japan. He is a quarter Japanese and very familiar with the customs and language, reading, writing, and speaking. Friends all around were being called to Japan to serve their missions, so he felt that he had a strong chance of being called there too, but Elder Callor was surprisingly called to the South Dakota Rapid City Mission. Many teachers and returned missionaries said that because the language was so difficult that if a person already knew the language or had an interest in learning it they were usually called to Japan. Today when Elder Callor entered the MTC to begin his training to serve in South Dakota everywhere he turned Elders and Sisters had been called to serve in Japan. Then the opening and closing prayers were given by missionaries going to Japan. This was a great witness to him and to us that one is called to serve where the Lord needs them. Their call has been individually designed and waiting just for them. Elder Callor would have liked serving in Japan, but he said as he prepared for South Dakota that he knows that where he was called is where he is supposed to be. That it doesn’t matter where he goes as long as he is able to share his testimony with those searching for the gospel. Elder Callor is a great example of the true missionary spirit and the purpose of serving.


After Nick went through the missionary exit and we left the building we sat in the parking lot for a little longer just to let the whole thing sink in.

Official Missionary

Nickolas was set apart tonight, July 15th 2008 at 7:30PM, as an official missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was set apart by President Trevort, Rossenbaum and Montague, and his dad was able to be apart of it. He is now an official missionary.

After the setting apart we took Nick out to Mi Rancheritos to celebrate. We had a wonderful time. Brandon, Domenic, Alexis, Amy and Brandon, Melanie, Kayden and Kaycee were all able to join Nickolas, Mom, Dad and Sara in celebrating. His last night home for the next two years.








We got a cute picture of Elder Callor with his nieces and nephews. Poor little Skyler was not in the picture because he was still in the hospital.

Farewell Sunday

Nick gave his last talk in his ward today, well at least for the next two years. Mom sang a beautiful song, "Face to Face" and Sara received her Young Women Recognition Award. The family and Grandma and Grandpa Anderson were able to attend. Even though little Skyler was not feeling well Brandon, Katy and the kids came to support Nick. Isaac flew in on Saturday to surprise Nick and attend his talk before he left. Isaac is in his 4th year of Vet school and doesn't get time off but he was able to swap his rounds with another student at the last second to be able to attend and say goodbye to Nick. Aunt Dorothy, Uncle Rich, Joey, Jessica and Jeff, and Christy and Brad and the kids came to the house to visit.

Sara took mom, dad and Nick over to the Patriarchs home to get her patriartical blessing.

Nick was also able to finally receive his Eagle Scout Award. It took longer than expected but he finally got it. There was some problems with the paperwork because of their move to Elk Ridge a few years ago but he finally got it.






It was a big day filled with love and the support of family and friends. What a great way to celebrate Nick's Sunday before he left on his mission. We were also able to get family pictures because Isaac surprised us. Thank goodness for Sister Lynn! We'll post them as soon as we get them back.