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.

A Long Time Gone

Kaycee is really sad because Uncle Nickel Pickel is going to be leaving her. We needed to get pictures of Nick for his mission in his snazy suit so we took him to Sears. While there Kayden got his 2 month pictures. Kaycee is used to getting photographed and wanted her pictures taken so we got a photo with the three of them for the kids to hang up in their room, and to put next to Uncle Nick's mission chart. The pictures turned out really cute. Now we have to get pictures of Uncle Nickel with Alexis, Domenic, and Skyler so he can have pictures of all of the little cuties to take with him.

Manti

I went to the Manti Temple on the 5th of July. It was a wonderful experience. Family and friends were able to attend. My older brother, Brandon, was there along with my sister, Melanie. She was able to fly down from Washington with my new nephew, Kayden and niece, Kaycee. My sister, Amy and brother-in-law, Brandon were there. Isaac was not able to attend because he was stuck in Washington (4th year vet rotations). My sister-in-law, Katy, was home with the kids, Skyler wasn't feeling well.

Sara stayed outside with Colleen and Rebekah to help with Kaycee and Kayden. Afterwards Sara and I were able to perform baptisms, along with Melanie's in-laws, the Botts. It helped make this wonderful day even more special.

My grandparents, Hal and Velora Anderson, good friends Seth and David Bott and my good friend KJ, with his parents, Lyndell and Ken Lutes, Norman and Ruth Bacala were there to share this special moment with me.